New York Mets (4-8) vs. Washington Nationals (4-4)
RHP Rick Porcello (0-1, 13.50) | RHP Max Scherzer (0-1, 2.84)
Wednesday, Aug. 5, 2020, 6:05 p.m.
The Mets hope to rebound tonight after a frustrating loss against the Washington Nationals on Monday. They will look to split the two-game series with the Nationals, before heading into their first day off this season.
Steven Matz had a rough start yesterday, yielding five runs in three innings. The bullpen on the other hand pitched well, throwing five scoreless innings. Offensively, the Mets bats are still suffering from their collective slump and missing three regulars with injuries only made things worse. The Mets badly need the day off tomorrow to regroup. Hopefully they can squeeze out a win beforehand.
Mets Lineup
- Brandon Nimmo – LF
- Michael Conforto – RF
- Pete Alonso – 1B
- Dominic Smith – DH
- J.D. Davis – 3B
- Andres Gimenez – SS
- Wilson Ramos – C
- Luis Guillorme – 2B
- Billy Hamilton – CF
Nationals Lineup
- Trea Turner – SS
- Adam Eaton – RF
- Starlin Castro – 2B
- Juan Soto – LF
- Howie Kendrick – DH
- Asdrubal Cabrera – 3B
- Eric Thames – 1B
- Kurt Suzuki – C
- Victor Robles – CF
It’s going to be tough though matchup for the Mets, as they will be sending out Rick Porcello to go head-to-head with Max Scherzer. Porcello has gotten off to a rough start to the season, allowing 11 runs (9 earned) off 12 hits and six walks in just six innings pitched. He hasn’t allowed a homer yet though. The Nationals have the following numbers against Porcello:
- Emilio Bonifacio 1-2, 2B
- Wilmer Difo 2-3, K
- Adam Eaton 6-15, 2B, 3B, HR, 2 BB, 3 K
- Juan Soto 1-2, BB, K
- Yan Gomes 6-18, 3 2B, 2 K
- Starlin Castro 6-19, 2B, 3B, 3 K
- Kurt Suzuki 6-25, 2 2B, HR, 4 BB, K
- Howie Kendrick 10-31, 3 2B, 9 K
- Asdrubal Cabrera 17-62, 3 2B, 3 BB, 10 K
- Trea Turner 0-3
- Michael Taylor 0-4, K
The Mets, who can’t seem to find a hit with runners in scoring position, get to figure things out against Max Scherzer. How fun.
Scherzer has allowed four runs over 12 2/3 innings (2.84 ERA), while striking out 21 this season. Last year in 27 starts he pitched 172 1/3 innings with a 2.92 ERA, 2.45 FIP (league leading), 1.027 WHIP and 155 ERA+. The Mets, to their credit, scored 10 runs in 26.0 innings against him last year (3.46 ERA), recording 19 hits and six walks, while striking out 35 times. The Mets have the following numbers against Max:
- Michael Conforto 10-31, 2B, 4 HR, 3 BB, 13 K
- J.D. Davis 2-5, 2B, 2 K
- Billy Hamilton 3-9, 2 2B, 2 K, 2 SB
- Brian Dozier 3-17, HR, 4 BB, 7 K
- Brandon Nimmo 3-19, 2B, HR, 4 BB, 11 K
- Jeff McNeil 2-12, 2B, BB, 2 K
- Amed Rosario 4-15, 2B, 7 K
- Wilson Ramos 4-17, 2B, K
- Pete Alonso 2-12, 2B, 7 K
- Dominic Smith 0-6, BB, 4 K
Scherzer has made 20 starts against the Mets in his career, pitching to a 2.63 ERA with a 10-5 record against them. Across his 137 innings pitched against New York, Scherzer has 183 strikeouts.
Game Notes
The New York Mets acquired RHP Ariel Jurado from the Texas Rangers for a player to be named later and cash considerations. Jurado was optioned to the alternate training site in Brooklyn.
To make room for Jurado on the 40-man roster, the Mets DFA’d Ryan Cordell. With the roster size dropping from 30 down to 28 on Thursday, the Mets elected to not replace Cordell on the active roster and will be playing with a 29-man roster tonight.
According to North Jersey’s Justin Toscano, Robinson Cano expects to be ready when he is eligible to return of the 10-day injured list.
Let’s Go Mets!
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