Nationals (40-40) vs Mets (33-44)
LHP Gio Gonzalez (4-3, 3.31) vs RHP Zack Wheeler (1-0, 3.18)
Starting Lineup
- Eric Young Jr., lf
- Daniel Murphy, 2b
- David Wright, 3b
- Marlon Byrd, rf
- Josh Satin, 1b
- John Buck, c
- Juan Lagares, cf
- Omar Quintanilla, ss
- Zack Wheeler, rhp
Game Notes
Dillon Gee limited the Nationals to one run in six innings as the Mets won, 5-1, Saturday at Citi Field. Gee has a 2.48 ERA over his past six starts. He is 3-0 this season and 6-1 in his career against Washington.
Marlon Byrd continued his hot streak as he went 1-for-3 and scored two runs. Byrd now has 40 RBIs, which is second on the Mets. He reached base four times Saturday, including twice on errors, and was hit by a pitch. His RBI single in the sixth inning put the Mets up 5-1.
Eric Young Jr. is in the midst of an eight-game hitting streak, matching his career high. He is hitting .400 (14-for-35) with four doubles, five runs scored and six RBIs during that stretch.
Zack Wheeler tossed six scoreless innings in his major league debut on June 18 at Atlanta. Working on a full week of rest, he then surrendered four runs in 5 1/3 innings at Chicago in an interleague series. Pitching coach Dan Warthen worked with Wheeler between starts to try to remedy the rookie’s pitch tipping. Wheeler had different arm angles for different pitches, the Mets have acknowledged.
Wheeler has walked eight batters through his first two games, one shy of the Mets record for walks in a pitcher’s first two games. That mark is shared by Juan Berenguer, Walt Terrell and Bill Pulsipher. Terrell and Pulsipher share the mark through three games (14).
Jenrry Mejia made a minor league appearance yesterday. Mejia, who has battled a forearm issue since spring training, started in the Gulf Coast League on Saturday. The 23-year-old right-hander pitched 1 2/3 innings. He was charged with three hits and two unearned runs while issuing one walk.
Ruben Tejada, playing in his second official rehab game in the Gulf Coast League, went 0-for-3 with two strikeouts and logged seven innings at shortstop. He is 1-for-5 with a double through two games.
Game Preview
Happy Wheeler Day!
Happy David Wright Bobblehead Day!
Yesterday the Mets were able to even up the series against the Nationals thanks to good starting pitching from Gee, strong relief outings (Torres specifically) and the Mets hitting taking advantage of Washington’s mistakes. Today Wheeler makes his third major league start and his home debut while the Mets bats get yet another look at Gio Gonzalez.
Wheeler struggled in his second start in his career where he allowed 4 ER over 5.1 innings. The word on the street was Wheeler was tipping his pitches, something he has never done in his career at any level and something he did not do in his first start. Speaking of his first start, he pitched 6.0 innings allowing 4 hits and 5 walks while striking out 7 batters. He has never faced the Nationals or anyone on the Nationals roster.
Gio Gonzalez is 4-3 on the year over 16 starts and 98.0 innings with a 3.31 ERA. In five starts in the month of June he pitched 33.1 innings and struck out 37 batters with a 2.16 ERA. In one start against the Mets this year he allowed 5 ER over 4.0 innings. The Mets have the following numbers against Gio:
Wright 3-11, 3B, HR
Buck 2-12, 2B
Byrd 2-8
Murphy 1-6
Young 0-1
Lets Go Mets!
