Tuesday, June 4, 2024 • 6:45 PM
Nationals Park • Washington, DC
LHP David Peterson (0-0, 3.60) vs. LHP DJ Herz (MLB Debut)
SNY

The Mets look to take the series tonight in Washington D.C.! Monday night, the Mets and Nationals were locked in a back-and-forth game with the Mets eventually taking an 8-5 lead. Things were looking good for the Mets until the ninth inning where things almost fell apart. The Mets were able to squeak by with an 8-7 win. Did Monday’s game finally exorcise the Mets’ late-game demons?

David Peterson, Sam Navarro-USA TODAY Sports

Mets Lineup

  1. Francisco Lindor – SS
  2. Pete Alonso – 1B
  3. Brandon Nimmo – LF
  4. J.D. Martinez – DH
  5. Starling Marte – RF
  6. Mark Vientos – 3B
  7. Harrison Bader – CF
  8. Jose Iglesias – 2B
  9. Tomás Nido – C

David Peterson looks to give the Mets what starting pitchers have struggled too in the last week—length. In his 2024 debut last week, he tossed five innings allowing three runs (two earned) off seven hits and a walk. He tossed 86 pitches facing 22 batters. As a starter against the Nationals last season, he allowed six runs from nine hits and two walks over five innings. Later in the season, he faced the Nationals in relief, totaling four innings over two games holding the Nationals to one unearned run from four hits.

The Nationals have the following career numbers against him:

Opposing Lineup

  1. CJ Abrams – SS
  2. Lane Thomas – RF
  3. Joey Meneses – DH
  4. Nick Senzel – 3B
  5. Ildemaro Vargas – 2B
  6. Jesse Winker – LF
  7. Keibert Ruiz – C
  8. Joey Gallo – 1B
  9. Jacob Young – CF

The Mets were supposed to face old friend Trevor Williams (5-0, 2.22 ERA) tonight, but the Nats placed him on the injured list with a flexor strain.

Instead, the team will face lefty DJ Herz, who will make his MLB debut.

Herz is seen as one of the Nationals’ better pitching prospects, and he’s pitched to a 3.75 ERA over 36 innings in the hellacious International League. As is the final issue with many pitchers as they hit the upper minor leagues, control is Herz’s biggest issue. That’s highlighted by his absurd 7.25 walks per nine innings in Triple-A. (He’s walking one of every five batters he faces!!)

Game Notes

Edwin Díaz threw a bullpen session today and could pitch in a minor league game on Thursday. He’s on the injured list with a shoulder impingement.

Jose Iglesias is starting at second base over Jeff McNeil for the third straight game.

The Nationals placed Trevor Williams, the planned starter, on the injured list ahead of Tuesday’s game with a flexor strain.

The Mets’ last win of more than one run came May 19—17 days ago—in a 7-3 win over the Marlins.

Three Things To Watch For

  1. Playing time at second. Jeff McNeil did not start Monday’s game despite having good career numbers against MacKenzie Gore (6-for-7, BB). José Iglesias got the start instead and went 3-for-5 at the plate with two runs scored and a stolen base. A bit surprisingly, Mendoza continues to go with the hot hand tonight.
  2. Mark Vientos. Over his last 12 games, Vientos has gone 15-for-42 at the plate with three doubles and four homers. He’s slashing .357/.438/.714 in that stretch. In Monday’s game that translated into two runs scored. This is the exact spark the Mets needed in their lineup.
  3. What will the Mets bullpen do today? Adrian Houser held things down for the Mets with 2 1/3 scoreless innings on Monday and Drew Smith coming off the injured list finished off the 8th inning for him. Then Ottavino came in for the 9th and the game started to disintegrate. The Mets bullpen just needs a clean end of the game.

Let’s go Mets!