Washington @ New York preview
Citi Field
Last Meeting ( Apr 2, 2014 ) Washington 5, NY Mets 1
As miserable as 2013 proved to be for the New York Mets’ hitters, this season is shaping up to be even worse. The Mets, who hope to avoid a three-game home sweep on Thursday against the Washington Nationals, tied the Atlanta Braves for the most strikeouts by a National League team (1,384) last season. In two games against the Nationals, New York has recorded 31 strikeouts, surpassing the major league mark the Houston Astros established through two contests last season (28).
The Mets, who tallied only three hits versus 13 strikeouts in Wednesday’s 5-1 setback, are off to their first 0-2 start since 2005 and won’t catch much of a break against 19-game winner Jordan Zimmermann in the series finale. After Washington rallied for a 9-7, 10-inning Opening Day victory on Monday, the Nationals did not require any late-game theatrics two days later once Ian Desmond and starting pitcher Gio Gonzalez each went deep in the fifth inning to propel the Nationals to their seventh straight win over New York. Washington also improved to 2-0 for the third consecutive season.
TV: 1:10 p.m. ET, MASN (Washington), SNY (New York)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Nationals RH Jordan Zimmermann (2013: 19-9, 3.25 ERA) vs. Mets RH Zack Wheeler (2013: 7-5, 3.42)
Zimmermann tied St. Louis Cardinals ace Adam Wainwright for the National League lead in wins last season while also notching four complete games, one fewer than Wainwright’s major league-leading total. The second-round pick of the Nationals in the 2007 draft posted a 12-4 mark with a 2.58 ERA prior to the All-Star break, but fell off a bit thereafter with a 7-5 record and 4.33 ERA. Zimmermann went only 1-3 in five starts against New York last year despite a 3.62 ERA while also holding Mets’ hitters to a .215 average.
Although fellow rookie Matt Harvey garnered most of the attention, Wheeler began to pay the Mets back for the investment they made in 2011 when they dealt Carlos Beltran to the San Francisco Giants in order to acquire his services. The 23-year-old endured his fair share of struggles down the stretch at home, however, failing to collect a win in any of his final three turns at Citi Field to finish 2-4 with a 4.73 ERA at the venue. Wheeler went 1-2 with a 3.93 ERA in three starts against Washington last season.
WALK-OFFS
1. Washington 2B Anthony Rendon is 4-for-10 with a home run and five RBIs after batting .265 with seven homers and 35 RBIs in 98 contests last season.
2. Mets CF Juan Lagares, who accounted for two of New York’s three hits on Wednesday, is 4-for-8 with a solo homer with three runs scored over his first two games.
3. Nationals CF Denard Span went 5-for-10 against Wheeler last season and has more hits against him than any other player.
PREDICTION: Nationals 4, Mets 2