The Mets start to work on their back log of missing games today as they play two with the Nationals. But it would be rude if I continued and didn’t wish you a Happy Harvey Day. Therefore, Happy Harvey Day!

jenrry-mejia

RHP JENRRY MEJIA

Game 1 Preview and Starting Lineup:

  1. Juan Lagares – CF
  2. Daniel Murphy – 2B
  3. David Wright – 3B
  4. Marlon Byrd – RF
  5. Ike Davis – 1B
  6. Andrew Brown – LF
  7. Anthony Recker – C
  8. Omar Quintanilla – SS
  9. Jenrry Mejia – RHP

Mets (Jenrry Mejia, 0-0, 0.00) vs. Nationals (Jordan Zimmerman, 12-5, 3.01)

Before the Mets can get to the festivities around Harvey Day, which is in the second game, they have to beat Jordan Zimmermann as he goes up against Jenrry Mejia in a spot start. At this time last week it looked like Schwinden would be getting the nod for the spot start, and its good thing he didn’t. If we are talking about the future of the Mets or at least game with more of a reason to watch, it would be Mejia. Jenrry hasn’t pitched in the majors since last year where he totaled 16.0 innings and 10 earned runs. He has pitched a total of 24.2 innings in the minors this year with a 2.55 ERA. In four games against the Nationals in his career he has pitched 5.1 innings allowing 3 ER, 3 BB and a strikeout. The following Nationals have faced him:

Desmond 1-3
Werth 2-2
Zimmerman 0-1
Hairston 1-1

On the other side of the rubber will be Jordan Zimmermann who is 12-5 over 20 games this year with a 3.01 ERA and 134.1 innings. July hasn’t been so kind to him, mostly due to his last start where he allowed 7 ER over 2.0 innings. In the 19.2 innings he’s thrown this year he’s allowed 16 ER. In 13.0 innings he’s thrown against the Mets this year, he’s allowed 4 runs, 2 earned. The Mets have the following numbers against Jordan:

Wright 9-31, 2 2B, 2 HR
Murphy 7-28, 2 2B, HR
Davis 4-19, 2B, HR
Buck 4-16, 2 2B, HR
Byrd 2-9

matt harvey

RHP MATT HARVEY

Game 2 Preview and Starting Lineup:

  1. Juan Lagares – CF
  2. Daniel Murphy – 2B
  3. David Wright – 3B
  4. Marlon Byrd – RF
  5. Josh Satin – 1B
  6. Justin Turner – SS
  7. John Buck – C
  8. Andrew Brown – LF
  9. Matt Harvey – RHP

Mets (Matt Harvey, 8-2, 2.23) vs. Nationals (Ross Ohlendorf, 2-0, 2.03)

The second game will feature Matt Harvey vs Ross Ohlendorf. Matt Harvey was excellent in his last start as he improved on the season to 8-2 with 2.23 ERA over 20 games and 137.0 innings while striking out 157 batters. In two starts against the Nationals this year he has allowed 2 ER over 14.0 innings while striking out 18 batters. The Nationals have the following numbers against him:

Desmond 3-7, HR
LaRoche 1-8
Werth 0-7, 6 K
Span 2-7, 3B
Suzuki 0-7, 3 K
Zimmerman 1-5, HR

The Mets will finish off the day with Ross Ohlendorf who is 2-0 over 8 games, 1 start and 26.2 innings of work with a 2.03 ERA. He pitched 71.2 innings in the minors this year with a 4.27 ERA. This season he pitched 2.0 innings of relief against the Mets allowing 1 ER off 3 hits and one strikeout. The Mets have the following numbers against him:

Byrd 3-11, 2B
Wright 3-4
Buck 0-5
Murphy 2-4
Young 1-4, 3B
Lagares 1-1, 2B
Satin 1-1, 2B

Mets at Nationals Doubleheader Game Notes:

  • RHP Jenrry Mejia will return from the disabled list to make a start Friday against Washington. Mejia was a prized pitching prospect for the Mets three years ago but has not appeared in a major league game since Sept. 30. Mejia underwent Tommy John surgery in 2011 and struggled with elbow inflammation this year. He made just five major league appearances last season and has a 7.03 ERA in six career major league starts. In four relief appearances against the Nationals, he has a 5.06 ERA. Mejia has made six rehab starts and has posted an 0.82 ERA in two rehab outings for Double-A Binghamton.
  • RHP Matt Harvey will make his second start after the All-Star break in the nightcap of the doubleheader and will go for his second straight victory. Harvey began the second half by scattering three hits over seven innings while striking out 10 during Sunday’s victory over the Philadelphia Phillies. Friday’s start will also mark the one-year anniversary of his major league debut at Arizona. In three starts against Washington, Harvey is 1-1 with a 1.42 ERA.
  • LF Eric Young Jr. had a sore right knee that the Mets described as a strain. He was removed from the game after the third inning when the Mets saw that he had difficult putting weight on it while running the bases. Young said he didn’t want to push it and the Mets seemed to think the injury was not serious.
  • C John Buck said that shortening his swing has led to improved run production in other ways besides hitting home runs. Buck had three RBIs Thursday and has 13 over his last 11 games since July 5. Buck is batting .349 (15-for-43) in that period with four of those hits being doubles and one being a home run.
  • 3B David Wright set a career high by hitting his sixth triple in the sixth inning. His previous career-high was five during the 2006 season. He also became the sixth NL player to reach six triples this season He also is batting .341 (60-for-176) since June 5.
  • RHP Zack Wheeler struggled with first-pitch strikes, throwing just eight to 25 hitters but limited the damage to four runs and four hits over six innings. That made him the fourth Met to get four wins in their first seven games. The others are Jason Jacome, Octavio Dotel and Dillon Gee.
  • The Nationals have struggled to hold runners on the basepaths this season, having allowed 65 stolen bases in 74 tries, having caught a Major League-worst 12 percent of prospective basestealers.