MMO Game Thread: Mets vs. Nationals, 1:05 PM (Doubleheader Game 1)

This afternoon the Mets look to even up their series against the Nationals in the first game of a split doubleheader. Dillon Gee (7-8, 3.88) will make his final start of 2014 against Gio Gonzalez (9-10, 3.74). First pitch is scheduled for 1:05pm.

Gee received his first career loss against the Marlins in the Mets’ 4-3 defeat on September 17th at Citi Field. He pitched 6.2 innings, allowing seven hits and four runs, striking out four and walking two.

With recent September collapses still fresh in our minds, the Mets are 12-8 this month. The last time New York finished with a winning record in September was 2008 (13-12). The pitching staff has posted a 3.10 ERA, ranking fourth in the NL this month.

Travis d’Arnaud will get today’s game off as he battles various ailments. He collected his third triple of the season Tuesday night. The three triples are tied for the second-most in team history by a catcher in a single season. The last Mets catcher to do it was John Stearns in 1982.

Gee has compiled 45 straight starts of 5.0 innings or more, dating back to May 19th, 2013, the longest active streak in the majors. Gee’s streak is the fifth-longest streak in Mets history.

Matt den Dekker, LF
Wilmer Flores, 2B
Daniel Murphy, 3B
Lucas Duda, 1B
Curtis Granderson, RF
Kirk Nieuwenhuis, CF
Ruben Tejada, SS
Juan Centeno, C
Dillon Gee, RHP

The Mets were rained out last night in DC so they’ll play two today in the Nation’s capital in a Day / Night doubleheader. The first game will feature Dillon Gee, the scheduled start for the Mets last night. Dillon is 7-8 over 21 games this season and 132.1 innings with a 3.88 ERA. In his last start he allowed 7 ER over 12.0 innings while striking out 8. In three starts this year against the Nationals he has struggled allowing 11 ER over 18.0 innings. The Nationals have the following numbers against Gee:

Desmond 10-40, 3 HR
Werth 11-37, 3 2B, HR
Zimmerman 7-32, 2B
LaRoche 7-29, 2B, 3 HR
Span 6-28, 2 2B, HR

The Nationals will now send out rookie Blake Treinen in the first game who has started 6 games this season (and in his career), and 14 total with a 2-3 record, 1.94 ERA and 46.1 innings of work. He is coming off of a start in Atlanta where he shutout the Braves over 5.0 innings and hasn’t allowed a run since August 5th (he also wasn’t in a major league game from the 5th to September 3rd). He has logged 2.0 innings against the Mets in that most recent outing that he was scored on. The Mets have the following numbers against Blake:

d’Arnaud 0-0, HBP
Duda 0-1
Lagares 0-1
Murphy 1-1
Tejada 0-1

In the second game of the day, the Mets will send out Zack Wheeler who is 11-10 this year over 31 games and 180.1 innings with a 3.49 ERA. After a terrible start against the Nationals where he allowed 7 hits and 6 ER over 4.0 innings, he shut out the Braves over 6.0 innings while striking out 7 batters. He is 1-3 over 4 starts against the Nationals this year posting a 5.96 ERA while pitching 22.2 innings and striking out 22 batters. The Nationals have the following numbers against Wheeler:

Span 8-20, 2 2B
Werth 6-19, 2 2B, HR
Desmond 5-17, 2B, HR
LaRoche 2-13, HR
Rendon 6-14
Harper 3-13, HR

In the night cap, the Nationals will send out Gio Gonzalez, the scheduled starter for last night’s game.

Gio Gonzalez is 9-10 over 26 games and 151.2 innings with a 3.74 ERA. In his last two starts he has allowed 6 runs, 5 earned, in 13.2 innings. He has made 4 starts against the Mets this year and is 1-3 over 21.2 innings while allowing 22 hits, 14 runs, 13 earned. The Mets have the following numbers against Gio: