Thursday, April 4, 2019 • 1:10 p.m.
Citi Field • Flushing, NY
RHP Stephen Strasburg (0-0, 6.00) vs. RHP Noah Syndergaard (0-0, 6.00)
SNY • WCBS 880 AM • ESPN 1050 AM
It’s the Homer Opener!
After a week of playing baseball on the road, the Mets come back to Queens today for Opening Day! The stadium was always going to buzzing today: a new season, first home game of the year, tons of new players, a new sense of optimism, etc and the start the Mets got off to should only increase the buzz! For the 5th time in team history, and for the second year in a row, the Mets are 5-1 through their first six games of the season as they get ready for another early season series with the Nationals.
Before we talk about today, we have to talk about last night. Jacob deGrom was historically good, again. He reached a new career high in strikeouts (14) and hit his second career homer. The bullpen made things interesting at the end of the game, allowing 4 runs in the 9th, but luckily the Mets scored 6 and unlike last year deGrom got the win that his pitching demanded he observed.
The Mets won, so no harm, no foul right? Well maybe. The Mets have had to use the bullpen a lot in the last couple of days and in ways they didn’t expect to (Lugo pitching 40+ pitches, Diaz on Monday night loading the bases in a non-save situation then having to work himself out, Avilan going in for a second inning to save the bullpen last night only to fall apart and then have Gsellman fall apart so Diaz had to get into the game). The 1 PM start time today is particularly rough, hopefully the rush of the home opener keeps them going through the game. This team definitely needs the off-day tomorrow.
Mets Lineup
- Brandon Nimmo – LF
- Pete Alonso – 1B
- Robinson Cano – 2B
- Michael Conforto – RF
- Wilson Ramos – C
- Jeff McNeil – 3B
- Amed Rosario – SS
- Juan Lagares – CF
- Noah Syndergaard – RHP
Nationals Lineup
- Adam Eaton – RF
- Brian Dozier – 2B
- Anthony Rendon – 3B
- Juan Soto – LF
- Ryan Zimmerman – 1B
- Yan Gomes – C
- Wilmer Difo – SS
- Stephen Strasburg – RHP
- Victor Robles – CF
Noah Syndergaard makes his second start of the season today against the opponent that he made his first start against. In that first start he allowed 4 runs off 7 hits and no walks in 6.0 innings while striking out 7. He didn’t quite have “it” during the game and he was really working through the game. Last year he was 1-1 over 2 starts against the Nationals allowing 4 runs over 12.0 innings from 13 hits and 3 walks while striking out 7. The Nationals have the following numbers against Noah:
- Anthony Rendon 10-29, 2 2B, 2 HR, BB, 7 K
- Ryan Zimmerman 3-16, 2 2B, 6 K
- Trea Turner 3-15, 2 2B, 3 K
- Howie Kendrick 1-12, K
- Adam Eaton 3-10, 2 K
- Juan Soto 4-9, 2B, 3 K
- Michael A Taylor 2-7, 3 K
- Brian Dozier 0-3, K
- Victor Robles 2-2, HR
Today’s game really is a rematch of last week’s. Facing Syndergaard today is Stephen Strasburg who made his first start of the season last week against the Mets and put up almost an identical line to Noah. Stephen pitching 6.0 innings against the Mets allowing 4 runs off 7 hits and 2 walks while striking out 8. Last year he made one start against the Mets where he allowed 4 runs off 5 hits and 6.0 innings. The Mets have the following numbers against Stephen:
- Michael Conforto 4-21, 2 HR, 9 K
- Juan Lagares 2-16, 7 K
- Brandon Nimmo 2-8, 2B, 2 BB, 3 K
- Robinson Cano 0-6, 3 K
- Wilson Ramos 2-6, 2B, K
- Amed Rosario 2-5, 2 K
- Pete Alonso 2-3, 2B
- Jeff McNeil 2-3, 2B
Let’s Go Mets!
Game Notes
McNeil returns to the lineup after dealing with a sore knee.
The Mets are 37-20 (.643) in Home Openers, including 7-3 at Citi Field.
Wilson Ramos is 21-for-his-last-39 (.538) with runners in scoring position dating to June 30 of last season, the highest average in those situations in the majors in that span.
The Mets recorded 10 hits yesterday. The team has recorded four double-digit hit games this season, which is tied with Arizona and Seattle for the most in the majors this season
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