Saturday, April 7, 2018 • 1:05 p.m.
Nationals Park • Washington, D.C.
LHP Steven Matz (0-1, 6.75) vs. LHP Gio Gonzalez (1-0, 1.50)
SNY • WOR 710 AM • 104.3 WAXQ-FM HD 2 • ESPN 1050
The Mets and Nationals return to the baseball field this afternoon! As custom, with Thursday being the home opener for the Nationals, both teams had off yesterday just in case the festivities had to be pushed back a day.
Steven Matz will look to rebound after a rough first start and will be opposed by Gio Gonzalez.
Mets Lineup
- Asdrúbal Cabrera – 2B
- Yoenis Céspedes – LF
- Wilmer Flores – 1B
- Todd Frazier – 3B
- Travis d’Arnaud – C
- Jay Bruce – RF
- Juan Lagares – CF
- Steven Matz – LHP
- Amed Rosario – SS
Nationals Lineup
- Trea Turner – SS
- Anthony Rendon – 3B
- Bryce Harper – RF
- Ryan Zimmerman – 1B
- Howie Kendrick – 2B
- Michael A. Taylor – CF
- Brian Goodwin – LF
- Pedro Severino – C
- Gio Gonzalez – P
Steven Matz is looking to rebound from his first start of the season where he allowed three runs over four innings against the Cardinals on Sunday afternoon from four hits and three walks in the Mets only loss this season.
The long ball hurt Matz who allowed two homers. Matz had two very different starts against the Nationals last year. In his second start of the season he allowed four earned runs from eight hits and no walks in seven innings.
Three weeks later he held the Nationals scoreless over seven innings and to only four hits and two walks. That start was one of two starts all year where Matz held an opponent scoreless. The Nationals have the following numbers against Steven:
- Rendon 3-for-12, HR, 6 K
- Taylor 3-for-10, HR, 2 BB, 3 K
- Harper 2-for-9, BB
- Kendrick 2-for-9, 2 K
- Zimmerman 0-for-9
- Turner 1-for-8, 2B
- Wieters 1-for-5, HR
Gio González is coming off a strong opening start to the 2018 season where he allowed one run over six innings from five hits and one walk while striking out seven. Last year he went 15-9 over 32 starts and 201.0 innings posting a 2.96 ERA, 3.93 FIP, 1.179 WHIP and 150 ERA+.
Gonzalez was tremendous against the Mets last year going 3-0 in as many starts holding the Mets to five runs in 20.0 innings (2.25 ERA). In that stretch, he allowed 13 hits and four walks while striking out 13 (0.850 WHIP). The Mets have the following numbers against Gio:
- Lagares 16-for-43, 3 2B, 3B, HR, BB, 7 K
- Cabrera 7-for-31, 2 BB
- Bruce 4-for-23, 4 2B, 3 BB, 9 K
- Flores 5-for-23, HR, 2 BB
- Gonzalez 2-for-19, BB
- Reyes 7-for-19, 2 2B, 2 HR
- d’Arnaud 3-for-16, 3 2B
- Cespedes 7-for-13, 2B, 2 HR, 2 BB
- Frazier 2-for-11, 2B, 5 K
Notes
New York is 5-1 through its first six games of the season for the first time since 2006 when the Mets began the year 8-1.
Yoenis Céspedes, Michael Conforto and Jay Bruce all went deep on Thursday, marking the 16th time in franchise history that the entire Mets starting outfield homered in the same game. Last time was April 19, 2016 when Conforto,
Céspedes and Curtis Granderson all homered in the Mets’ 11-1 win over the Phillies. It was the fourth time since 2010 that the Mets starting outfielders all homered in the same contest.
Jay Bruce connected on his sixth career grand slam and first since May 2, 2017 at Atlanta. According to Stats, Inc, Bruce became the second cleanup hitter (first Mets cleanup hitter) from a New York City-based team to hit a grand slam in a game in Washington D.C., joining Lou Gehrig, who hit two grand slams at the Senators in 1932 and 1935.
Amed Rosario has five RBI this season, all of which have come with two outs. Since his major league debut last season on Aug. 1, Rosario’s five triples are tied for second-most in the majors in that time. Rosario is batting .333 (5-for-15) this year.
Adrian Gonzalez has hit .362 (34-for-94) at Nationals Park, highest among players with 100 plate appearances. Research courtesy of Elias. He has four home runs and 14 RBI in 26 career games in this ballpark.
Mets pitchers recorded 72 strikeouts through six games, the highest total in major league history in a team’s first six games of a season. Research courtesy of Elias.
New York’s staff has posted a 2.33 ERA, the best mark in the NL and tied for second in the majors. The team has a 1.02 WHIP, the lowest mark in the majors and has held opponents to a .185 mark the second-lowest in the majors. They have allowed two or fewer runs in four of their six games.
Hansel Robles has struck out six of the seven batters, he’s faced this year.
