Yesterday was a fun baseball game. I’m not sure if highlights will capture how much fun it was. Steven Matz threw a lot of pitches early, but recovered to throw five scoreless. Patrick Corbin was good to this point, allowing only a solo homer to J.D. Davis. Robert Gsellman promptly allowed a run after Matz, which knotted the game up but the Mets responded with two more solo homers (J.D. Davis again and Michael Conforto) off Corbin in the sixth to take back the lead and knock Corbin out.

This is where things got interesting. The Mets would then allow the game to get tied, and then allow the Nationals to take a 5-3 lead in the eighth. Pete Alonso and Robinson Cano responded with back-to-back homers to open up the eighth and then the Mets were able to squeak out a go-ahead run with Diaz shutting the door in the 9th.

A back and forth, fun game. Made even better with all the celebration in the Nationals dugout in the top of the eighth. Now the Mets find themselves with a rubber game on a lovely Sunday afternoon. If they win, they’ll be 4-2 against the Nationals this year. If they lose, they’ll be a .500 team with a sweep of the Marlins being the difference on season.

Mets Lineup

  1. Jeff McNeil (L) LF
  2. Pete Alonso (R) 1B
  3. Robinson Cano (L) 2B
  4. Michael Conforto (L) RF
  5. Wilson Ramos (R) C
  6. J.D. Davis (R) 3B
  7. Amed Rosario (R) SS
  8. Keon Broxton (R) CF
  9. Zack Wheeler (L) P

Nationals Lineup

TBD

Zack Wheeler has made one start this year (against the Nationals) and he allowed four runs over five innings from six hits and a walk while striking out seven. He was bumped yesterday because the Mets wanted to split up Matz and Vargas in the rotation. Last year against the Nationals he made three starts over 20.2 innings with a 3.05 ERA from seven runs off 21 hits and eight walks. The Nationals have the following numbers against Zack:

  • Anthony Rendon 10-for-28, 5 BB, 4 K
  • Ryan Zimmerman 8-for-25, 2 HR, 2 BB, 5 K
  • Adam Eaton 8-for-13, 2B
  • Juan Soto 2-for-9, BB, 3 K
  • Wilmer Difo 1-for-7, K
  • Brian Dozier 0-for-5, K
  • Yan Gomes 1-for-5
  • Max Scherzer 0-for-3
  • Victor Robles 1-for-2, 2B

Max Scherzer is making his third start in his team’s first eight games of the season. The Nationals saw a schedule opportunity during the spring to do this and they went with it. For his part, Max says he can do this generally about five starts in a row before he needs a day to recoup. For the Nationals this means their ace goes up against the Mets twice and the Phillies once in their first eight games, giving them an advantage. He’s 0-2 this year over 12.2 innings allowing nine hits and four runs, (three earned) while striking out 21 batters and posting a 2.13 ERA, 2.67 FIP, and a 1.026 WHIP. Basically the losses are not his fault. On Opening Day against the Mets he allowed two runs over 7.2 innings from two hits and three walks while striking out 12. The Mets have the following numbers against him:

  • Michael Conforto 8-for-26, 4 HR, 3 BB, 10 K
  • Robinson Cano 4-for-21, 2 HR, 2 BB, 6 K
  • Brandon Nimmo 2-for-16, HR, 3 BB, 11 K
  • Juan Lagares 1-for-16, HR, BB, 11 K
  • Wilson Ramos 2-for-11
  • Amed Rosario 2-for-9, 2B, 4 K
  • Dominic Smith 0-for-6, BB, 4 K
  • Jeff McNeil 1-for-5, 2B, BB, 2 K
  • Pete Alonso 0-for-3, 2K
  • Keon Broxton 1-for-1, HR

NOTES

Let’s Go Mets!