MMO Game Thread: Nationals vs Mets, 7:10 PM (Updated Lineup)

Tuesday, May 17, 2016 • 7:10 p.m.
Citi Field • Flushing, N.Y.
RHP Max Scherzer (4-2, 4.15) vs. RHP Noah Syndergaard (3-2, 2.53)
SNY • MLBN • WOR 710 AM • ESPN 1050 AM

The Mets and Nationals will finally play each other for the first time this season. The Mets are coming off of a rough road trip that started off fine with splits against the Padres and the Dodgers but ended by being swept by the Rockies. Meanwhile, the Mets slide has coincided with a rise with the Phillies and the Marlins and now the top four teams in the division are incredibly tight. The Mets can cause some additional chaos with a strong series with the Nationals.

Syndergaard made his Citi Field debut one year ago today – May 17, 2015 vs. Milwaukee. He earned his first major league win, allowing one run over 6.0 innings. Syndergaard is 7-3 with a 2.70 ERA with 113 strikeouts in 15 career starts at Citi Field.

The Mets presented Daniel Murphy his NL Championship Ring this afternoon, and general manager Sandy Alderson told the former Met second baseman that without him “none of us would be wearing that ring today.”

Sandy Alderson downplayed the fact that Jacob deGrom’s velocity is sitting at 91-93 mph, telling reporters he is “unconcerned.”

Mets Lineup

Curtis Granderson, RF
Asdrubal Cabrera, SS
Michael Conforto, LF
Yoenis Cespedes, CF
Neil Walker, 2B
Eric Campbell, 1B
Kevin Plawecki, C
Noah Syndergaard, RHP
Matt Reynolds, 3B

Nationals Lineup

Ben Revere, CF
Jayson Werth, LF
Bryce Harper, RF
Daniel Murphy, 2B
Ryan Zimmerman, 1B
Anthony Rendon, 3B
Wilson Ramos, C
Danny Espinosa, SS
Max Scherzer, RHP

Noah Syndergaard will start it off for the Amazins. He’s 3-2 over 7 starts over 46.1 innings this year with a 2.53 ERA. In his last two starts he has allowed 12 hits and 4 ER over 14.0 innings striking out 11 batters and posting a 2.57 ERA. Last year Noah was 1-0 0ver 3 starts against the Nationals logging 20.0 innings with a 1.80 ERA and 23 K’s. The Nationals have the following numbers against Thor:

Harper 3-9
Rendon 3-7, 2B, HR
Lobaton 1-6
Robinson 1-5, HR
Taylor 1-6
Werth 0-6
Espinosa 0-4

The Mets bats will get a tough assignment in Max Scherzer to start off the series. He’s 4-2 over 8 starts and 52.0 innings with a 4.15 ERA. Important note, he does lead the league in homers allowed at 11. He’s coming off of the best start of the season where he pitched a complete game striking out 20 batters allowing 2 solo homers. That start was preceded by a start where he allowed 7 ER over 5.0 innings and 4 homers. The Mets never really quite figured him out last year going 1-2 over 4 starts over 29.2 innings with a 1.82 ERA and 41 K’s. The Mets have the following numbers against Max: