The Mets go for an Opening Series sweep this afternoon! Yesterday, the Mets won 11-8 in a long game. New York went up up early 3-0 in the first and later 4-1, but as Syndergaard labored through six innings the Nationals eventually tied it 4-4. Between the eighth and ninth innings, the Mets were able to push it all the way out to 11-4 before collapsing a bit, allowing the final score to be 11-8. Pete Alonso and Jeff McNeil were the star hitters of the day and the team overall recorded 14 hits.
Mets Lineup
- Brandon Nimmo (L) LF
- Pete Alonso (R) 1B
- Robinson Cano (L) 2B
- J.D. Davis (R) 3B
- Michael Conforto (L) RF
- Amed Rosario (R) SS
- Keon Broxton (R) CF
- Tomas Nido (R) C
- Zack Wheeler (L)
Nationals Lineup
- Adam Eaton (L) RF
- Trea Turner (R) SS
- Anthony Rendon (R) 3B
- Juan Soto (L) LF
- Ryan Zimmerman (R) 1B
- Yan Gomes (R) C
- Brian Dozier (R) 2B
- Patrick Corbin (L) P
- Victor Robles (R) CF
Zack Wheeler makes his 2019 debut today. Last year, he went 12-7 over 29 games and 182.1 innings with a 3.31 ERA, 3.25 FIP, 1.124 WHIP and 111 ERA+. All of those were career bests for Wheeler. He was 2-1 over three games and 20.2 innings against the Nationals, allowing seven runs (3.05 ERA) from 21 hits and eight walks while striking out 13. The Nationals have the following numbers against Wheeler:
- Anthony Rendon 9-for-26, 4 BB, 4 K
- Ryan Zimmerman 8-for-23, 2 HR, 2 BB, 4 K
- Trea Turner 5-for-13, 2B, 2 BB
- Adam Eaton 5-for-10, 2B, 2 BB
- Juan Soto 2-for-6, BB
- Howie Kendrick 1-for-6, K
- Brian Dozier 0-for-3, K
The Mets bats get to experience the Nationals debut of their major offseason signing: Patrick Corbin. The lefty had a career year in his walk year pitching 200.0 innings in 33 starts with a 3.15 ERA, 2.47 FIP, 1.050 WHIP and 137 ERA+. He faced the Mets twice last year allowing seven runs off 12 hits and six walks in 11.1 innings, a 5.56 ERA. The Mets have the following numbers against him:
- Juan Lagares 2-for-16, 2B, HR, 2 K
- Michael Conforto 4-for-8, 2B, 3 HR, BB, 2 K
- Keon Broxton 4-for-6, 2B, 3B, 2 BB
- Amed Rosario 2-for-8, 2B, HR, K
- Brandon Nimmo 2-for-6, BB, 3 K
- Robinson Cano 1-for-2, HR, BB
- J.D. Davis 0-for-3, K
- Wilson Ramos 0-for-2, BB
Notes
Dating back to September 1, 2018, the Mets are 11-6 on the road, including 5-1 at Washington. Last year, New York finished the year 40-41 on the road. The Mets ranked sixth in the majors with 402 runs on the road in 2018. New York was second in the majors with a .331 OBP away from Citi Field.
The Mets allowed a run in the first-inning on Saturday which ended the team’s scoreless streak at 33.0 innings dating to September 28, 2018. It was the fifth-longest streak in franchise history.
Zack Wheeler went 10-1 with a 1.96 ERA (18 earned runs/82.2 innings) over his final 12 starts dating to July 14, 2018. Wheeler was second in the majors in ERA from July 14, 2018 through the end the year, behind Jacob deGrom (1.73). Minimum 75.0 innings. Wheeler was tied for the major league lead with nine wins and had the third-lowest ERA in the majors (1.68) after the All-Star break last season. The last Mets pitcher to have nine or more wins following the All-Star break was Steve Trachsel in 2001 (nine). Had a 0.69 homer per nine innings rate in 2018, the fourth-lowest mark in the majors.
Edwin Diaz has saves in each of the Mets first two games of the year. He became the fourth reliever in franchise history to pick up saves in each of the first two games of the year, joining Frank Francisco (2012), Francisco Rodriguez (2009) and Jesse Orosco (1987). Fransisco is the only reliever in team history to save each of the team’s first three games of a season. Díaz has converted 12 straight save opportunities dating to August 20, 2018. He was the 2018 AL Reliever of the Year after registering 57 saves.
Let’s Go Mets!
