MMO Game Thread: Mets vs Nationals, 1:05 PM

Sunday, April 30, 2017 • 1:35 p.m.
Nationals Park • Washington, D.C.
RHP Noah Syndergaard (1-1, 1.73) vs. RHP Joe Ross (1-0, 6.17)
PIX11 • MLBN • WOR 710 AM • ESPN 1050 AM

After winning the first two games of this series, the Mets will look to complete their first sweep of the Nationals since September 7-9, 2015 at Washington. New York is now 3-6 in its last nine series vs. Washington.

New York’s 35 home runs this month are the most the team has ever hit in April. The previous record was 33 done in 2006 and equaled in 2016. The 35 home runs rank fifth in the majors.

Jose Reyes has hit in five straight games, going 8-18 (.444) with five runs scored, two home runs and three RBI. Reyes has 450 career RBI as a Met, six behind Kevin McReynolds (456) for 10th-most in franchise history.

Jeurys Familia earned his first save of the year yesterday. He moved into a tie for fourth place on the Mets all-time saves list with Billy Wagner with 101. Jesse Orosco is third on the list with 107 saves.

Travis d’Arnaud has four home runs and 16 RBI this year in 20 games. He had four home runs and 15 RBI in 75 games last season. D’Arnaud leads all major league catchers with 16 RBI this year

Nationals Lineup

Trea Turner– SS
Michael Taylor – CF
Bryce Harper – RF
Ryan Zimmerman – 1B
Daniel Murphy – 2B
Anthony Rendon – 3B
Jayson Werth – LF
Matt Wieters – C
Joe Ross– RHP

Mets Lineup

Michael Conforto – LF
Jose Reyes – SS
Jay Bruce – RF
Neil Walker – 2B
Curtis Granderson – CF
T.J. Rivera – 1B
Rene Rivera – C
Matt Reynolds – 3B
Noah Syndergaard – RHP

The Mets will be calling on Noah Syndergaard today, who has had an interesting week. With the rain-out on Tuesday, he was slated to go Wednesday and the Mets would skip Gsellman. Then the Mets pushed him to Thursday and before game time it was revealed he was suffering through biceps tendinitis and Harvey made the start instead.

Syndergaard tossed on Friday and got the green light to go, so here we are! On the season he is 1-1 over 4 starts with a 1.73 ERA in 26.0 innings of work with no walks and 30 strikeouts. He is coming off of his worst start of the season where he allowed 5 runs, 3 earned in 7.0 innings against the Phillies. This will also be his first start in 2017 against the Nationals. Last year he was 1-3 over 5 starts and 28.2 innings against them with a 3.45 ERA. The Nationals have the following numbers against Noah:

Harper 5-18, 2B
Rendon 6-19, 2B, HR
Werth 2-17
Murphy 3-12, 2 2B
Zimmerman 2-11, 2 2B
Lobaton 1-6
Taylor 1-6
Turner 1-6
Lind 1-3

The Mets bats will contend with Joe Ross who is 1-0 this season over 2 starts and 11.2 innings allowing 8 ER, 3 walks with 9 strikeouts. It is worth nothing that his numbers may be skewed because this will only be his third start this season and his bad start, his last one, was in Colorado. Before that he allowed 3 ER over 7.0 innings against Atlanta. He was 1-0 in as many starts against the Mets last year despite allowing 4 ER and 10 hits over 6.0 innings. The Mets have the following numbers against Ross: