Mets Go Up Against Strasburg In Their Fight To Salvage A Disastrous Homestand

Starting Lineup

1. Ruben Tejada – SS
2. Jordany Valdespin – LF
3. David Wright – 3B
4. Ike Davis – 1B
5. Daniel Murphy – 2B
6. Kirk Nieuwenhuis – RF
7. Josh Thole – C
8. Andres Torres – CF
9. Jeremy Hefner – RHP

The Mets and Nationals play a day game tomorrow as the Mets try to pull themselves out of a tailspin. Yesterday the Mets had a 1-0 lead until the Nationals tied it, then exploded out to a 5-1 lead. Another pinch-hit Valdespin homer made the game 5-2, but the Mets would not pull any closer. Today Jeremy Hefner makes his first start in the absence of Johan Santana as he takes on Stephen Strasburg.

Jeremy Hefner is 1-3 on the season over 12 games and 3 starts with a 5.85 ERA over 32.1 innings. In the minors, he is 5-2 over 10 games and 9 starts with a 2.77 ERA. His last start for the Mets was against the Nationals as he picked up the loss after allowing 4 runs, 3 earned over 6 innings. The Nationals have the following numbers against Hefner:

Espinosa 1-3
Flores 0-3
Harper 0-3
LaRoche 2-3, HR
Lombardozzi 1-3
Morse 2-3

Strasburg is 10-4 on the season over 19 starts with a 2.85 ERA with 110.1 innings of work. He is 1-3 in his last five starts while pitching 26.1 innings of work posting a 4.10 ERA. His last start was rough as he allowed 4 ER over 5.1 innings. His only start against the Mets this year was a win as he held the Mets scoreless over 6 innings. In 11 innings pitched against the Mets in his career, Strasburg has 14 strikeouts while posting a 1.64 ERA. He is 1-0 against New York. The Mets have the following numbers against Stephen:

Davis 2-5
Bay 1-5, 2B
Tejada 1-5
Thole 1-3
Murphy 0-2
Wright 1-3
Torres 1-2, HR

Let’s Go Mets!