Sunday, August 26, 2018 • 1:10 p.m.
Citi Field • Flushing, N.Y.
RHP Jefry Rodriguez (1-1, 5.46) vs. LHP Steven Matz (5-10, 4.55)
SNY • WOR 710 AM • 104.3 WAXQ-FM HD 2 • ESPN 1050 AM
The Mets look to sweep the Nationals today in Queens before the Mets go off to Chicago. So far the Mets have taken the first two games of the series by identical 3-0 scores yesterday thanks to seven innings of dominant work from Zack Wheeler and some Rosario / Frazier muscle.
Mets Lineup
- Amed Rosario SS
- Jeff McNeil 2B
- Michael Conforto LF
- Todd Frazier 3B
- Jay Bruce 1B
- Austin Jackson CF
- Jose Bautista RF
- Tomas Nido C
- Steven Matz P
Nationals Lineup
- Adam Eaton RF
- Trea Turner SS
- Anthony Rendon 3B
- Ryan Zimmerman 1B
- Juan Soto LF
- Michael Taylor CF
- Wilmer Difo 2B
- Spencer Kieboom C
- Jefry Rodriguez P
Steven Matz is 5-10 over 23 games and 114.2 innings with a 4.55 ERA, 4.93 FIP, 1.334 WHIP and 81 ERA+. Steven rebounded in his last start against the Giants allowing two runs over five innings. Before that in his first start back from the DL against the Phillies he allowed six runs, four earned in two innings. The last time he faced the Nationals it was the start that sent him to the DL as he allowed seven runs off eight hits and a walk in 0.2 innings. In total against the Nationals this season he has allowed 14 runs, 13 earned over 16 innings in four games (or seven runs, six earned in 15.1 innings in three games if you take out that last one). The Nationals have the following numbers against Steven:
- Taylor 4-for-18, HR, 2 BB, 8 K
- Rendon 6-for-19, 3 HR, 9 K
- Turner 4-for-18, 2B, BB
- Harper 3-for-16, 2B, 2 BB
- Zimmerman 2-for-14, HR
- Reynolds 4-for-11, 3 2B
- Wieters 2-for-8, HR
- Soto 3-for-5
- Difo 1-for-3
The Mets bats draw rookie Jefry Rodriguez who is 1-1 over seven games and five starts logging 29.2 innings with a 5.46 ERA, 5.61 FIP, 1.517 WHIP, 79 ERA+. In the month of August, he has made two starts allowing five runs, three earned over 10 innings and four walks. He’s played across AA and AAA this season combining to a 3.40 ERA over 19 games and 100.2 innings. This will be Jefry’s first time facing the Mets.
Game Notes
The Mets have won six of their last eight games and are 6-4 in their last 10 games. New York has won 14 of its last 22 games. The Mets are 14-11 this month and 26-23 since July 1. New York is 14-13 in its last 27 home games. Overall, the Mets are 28-39 at home this year. The Mets posted their 10th shutout of the year yesterday, tied for the ninth-most in the majors.
Mets starting pitchers have posted 1.40 ERA (eight earned runs/51.1 innings) in the team’s last eight games dating to
August 18. Mets starters have thrown 15 straight scoreless innings.
Todd Frazier has three homers in his last four games. Frazier has five homers and 15 RBI in his last 19 games. During that span, is hitting .319 (22-69).
New York has shut out Washington 3-0 in consecutive games. It was the first time the Mets had two straight shutouts since August 11-12, 2015 vs. Colorado. The last time the Mets had three straight shutouts was May 25-27, 2010 vs. Philadelphia.
Jeff McNeil has a career-best 10-game hitting streak (18-38, .474) and has hit safely in each of his last 12 starts
(21-52, .404). McNeil is batting .352 (31-88) this month, seventh in the NL (min. 80 PA) and has a .380 OBP in August. His .337 (35-104) batting average since his debut on July 24 is the sixth-best in the NL and ninth-highest in the majors (min. 100 PA). McNeil has nine multi-hit games in his first 31 games, tied for the ninth-most in franchise history.
Let’s go Mets!
