Washington @ New York preview
Citi Field
Last Meeting ( Apr 20, 2013 ) Washington 7, NY Mets 6
Bryce Harper entered the majors with a great deal of hype, but took another step toward justifying it on Saturday. Following his second two-homer game of the season, he'll try to lead the Washington Nationals to another road victory Sunday in the rubber match of a three-game set against the New York Mets. Washington hit four home runs in the Nationals’ 7-6 win, with Harper recording his fourth career multi-homer game - the second-most ever by a major-league player before his 21st birthday.
After defeating Nationals ace Stephen Strasburg and going deep four times in the series opener, New York failed to hit a home run for the first time in eight home games. However, John Buck – who leads the team with six homers and 21 RBIs – drove in a run for the second straight day after going a season-high four games without an RBI. The Mets’ pitching, which had served them so well in their first seven home games (2.14 ERA), let the team down a bit in Saturday’s setback as the seven earned runs were the most New York has allowed at Citi Field.
TV: 1:10 p.m. ET, MASN2 (Washington), WPIX (New York)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Nationals RH Jordan Zimmermann (3-0, 2.45 ERA) vs. Mets RH Dillon Gee (0-3, 8.36)
After struggling in the spring, Zimmermann has encountered little trouble over his first three starts. He notched his second career complete game in Monday’s 10-3 triumph over Miami, limiting the Marlins to three runs and six hits. The right-hander has also carried over his success from 2012 on the road, where he went 7-5 with a 2.36 ERA in 16 starts. In 11 outings against the Mets – his most common opponent – Zimmermann is 3-2 with a 3.00 ERA.
Gee’s miserable April continued in Tuesday’s 8-4 setback in Colorado, where the Rockies roughed him up for five runs and seven hits over 4 2/3 innings. A week earlier, the right-hander surrendered seven runs and 10 hits over three frames in a loss to Philadelphia. Gee, who is 10-10 with a 3.38 ERA at home in his career, turned in his only strong start this season at Citi Field against San Diego on April 4. In six career starts against the Nationals, he is 3-1 with a 3.38 ERA.
WALK-OFFS
1. All seven of Washington’s hits Saturday went for extra bases.
2. The Mets are 1-7 in games in which Matt Harvey and Jon Niese do not start.
3. Washington announced 3B Ryan Zimmerman (left hamstring) will be placed on the disabled list and top prospect Anthony Rendon will be recalled from Double-A Harrisburg to take his place.
PREDICTION: Nationals 6, Mets 3