Will Dickey Stop The Mets Second Half Slide Today Against The Nats?

Starting Lineup

1. Ruben Tejada – SS
2. Andres Torres – CF
3. David Wright – 3B
4. Scott Hairston – RF
5. Jason Bay – LF
6. Ike Davis – 1B
7. Justin Turner – 2B
8. Josh Thole – C
9. R.A. Dickey – RHP

The Mets try to avoid a sweep and an 0-6 road trip this afternoon as they take on the Nationals for an early 12:35 game in Washington. Yesterday was the same story for the Amazin’s as they got a great start from Young, followed by one inning of bad relief from Batista, and then an offense that didn’t show up until late in the game. It is worth noting that Rauch had the only inning in relief so far in the DC series where the bullpen did not allow a run. Anyway the Mets look to Dickey to play stopper and help the Mets gather themselves as they take on Gio Gonzalez.

Dickey is 12-1 on the season with a 2.66 ERA over 18 starts and 125 innings of work. In three of his last four starts he has allowed 5 ER, so he is looking to get back on the correct path himself. In one start against Washington this season he pitched 7.1 innings of shutout ball allowing only 4 hits, 2 walks and striking out 8 batters. The Nationals have the following numbers against Dickey:

Ankiel 9-23, 3 2B, HR
Zimmerman 5-22
Desmond 3-19, 3B
Espinosa 0-13
LaRoche 2-11
Morse 5-18, 2B

The Mets will get a look at Gio Gonzalez today who is 12-4 on the season with a 2.93 ERA over 18 starts and 107. 2 innings of work. In his last 8 starts, he has been a different pitcher as he has posted an ERA of 4.11 over 46.0 innings (2.04 ERA over his first 10 starts). Since returning from the All-Star break he has pitched 12.0 innings with 3 ER. He has pitched one game against the Mets in his career where he allowed 1 earned run over 7 innings of work. The Mets have the following numbers against him:

Torres 2-11
Bay 0-5
Duda 1-2
Hairston 1-3, 2B
Tejada 0-3
Turner 0-3

Let’s Go Mets!