Mandatory Credit: Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports

Friday, August 27, 2021 • 7:10 P.M.
Citi Field • Flushing, NY
RHP Paolo Espino (3-4, 4.28) vs. LHP Rich Hill (6-5, 4.13)
WPIX • WCBS 880 AM • WQBU 92.7 FM

Carlos Carrasco gave the Mets his best start of the season last night, pitching seven innings allowing two runs (that came on a homer in the first inning), yet it wasn’t enough. The Mets offense was still stuck in neutral and despite Alonso’s two run homer, the Mets ended up losing 3-2. Swept by the Giants, in a series where the Mets could have easily won at least two if not all three games, the Mets look to rebound against the Nationals this weekend at Citi Field.

Mets Lineup

  1. Brandon Nimmo – CF
  2. Pete Alonso – 1B
  3. Francisco Lindor – SS
  4. Javier Baez – 2B
  5. Michael Conforto – RF
  6. J.D. Davis – 3B
  7. Dominic Smith – LF
  8. Tomas Nido – C
  9. Rich Hill

Nationals Lineup

  1. Victor Robles – CF
  2. Alcides Escobar – SS
  3. Juan Soto – RF
  4. Josh Bell – 1B
  5. Carter Kieboom – 3B
  6. Lane Thomas – LF
  7. Riley Adams – C
  8. Luis Garcia – 2B
  9. Paolo Espino – RHP

Rich Hill has made 25 appearances this season, totaling 122 innings with a 4.13 ERA, 4.79 FIP, 1.205 WHIP and a 95 ERA+. Things have been way worse though with the Mets. In six games and 26 2/3 innings, Hill has a 5.06 ERA, 5.65 FIP, 1.350 WHIP and an 80 ERA+. This includes an outing against the Nationals where Hill restarted a game that was suspended in the 2nd inning. In that outing he allowed three runs over three innings from four hits and three walks. The Nationals have the following numbers against Hill:

  • Juan Soto 2-4, HR, BB, K
  • Ryan Zimmerman 7-14, 2B, 2 HR, BB, K
  • Luis Garcia 1-2, 2B
  • Victor Robles 2-6, 2B, HR, BB, 2 K
  • Carter Kieboom 1-2, K
  • Yadiel Hernandez 0-2, 2 BB
  • Alcides Escobar 2-5, BB, K
  • Josh Bell 2-9, 2B, 3 K
  • Riley Adams 0-1
  • Gerardo Parra 0-2, 2 K

The Mets bats will look to find themselves against Paolo Espino. He’s pitched in 28 games this season, making 12 starts totaling 75.2 innings with a 4.28 ERA, 4.68 FIP, 1.203 WHIP, and a 91 ERA+. In his last four starts he has allowed 15 runs over 14 1/3 innings. The only start where he allowed less than three runs was against the Mets but he only pitched one inning before the game was called for rain and the Mets scored a run anyway. The Mets have the following career numbers against Espino:

Game Notes

Pete Alonso, who was crowned the 2021 Home Run Derby Champion, will be presented a $1 million check in a pregame ceremony tonight for winning the contest.

Pete Alonso extended his hitting streak to 11 games last night, extending his career-high. He is batting .333 (15-45) in that span with eight runs, a double, a triple, four home runs, 10 RBI with a .1.054 OPS.

Let’s Go Mets!