Series Thread: Wash. Nationals @ NY Mets (9/2-4)

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• Series preview: Mets vs. Nationals



NEW YORK METS (69-65, second place/NL East) vs. WASHINGTON NATIONALS (78-55, first place/NL East)

Friday: RHP Noah Syndergaard (12-7, 2.55) vs. RHP A.J. Cole (0-1, 4.97), 7:10 p.m. ET

Saturday: RHP Robert Gsellman (1-1, 3.72) vs. RHP Tanner Roark (14-7, 2.87), 7:10 p.m. ET

Sunday: RHP Seth Lugo (2-2, 2.60) vs. RHP Max Scherzer (15-7, 2.89), 8:08 p.m. ET

From the Elias Sports Bureau: The last player to have more RBIs in their first season against their former team than Daniel Murphy's 21 against the Mets this season is Roger Maris. He had 27 RBIs for the Yankees against the Kansas City Athletics in 1960.

 

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• Morning Briefing: Oh, great, Murph's back


NEW YORK -- Just what the New York Mets need now ... the return ofDaniel Murphy.

A day after Neil Walker announced his intention to undergo season-ending surgery to address a herniated disk in his lower back that caused toe numbness, the ex-Met Murphy and the Washington Nationals visit for a weekend series.

Murphy, who spent a day off Thursday at the U.S. Open down the block from Citi Field, is hitting .423 (22-for-52) with seven homers and 21 RBIs in 13 games against his former employer.

With six games remaining between the clubs this season, Murphy has a shot at history.

The most homers by a player against the Mets in a season: 10, by Willie Stargell in 1966 and Dick Allen in 1968.

The most RBIs by a player against the Mets in a season: 28, by Hank Aaron back in 1962.

Noah Syndergaard (12-7, 2.55 ERA) opposes right-hander A.J. Cole (0-1, 4.97) in Friday's 7:10 p.m. ET opener.

The Mets then throw a pair of rookies the remainder of the series --Robert Gsellman opposite Tanner Roark on Saturday and Seth Lugoopposite Max Scherzer on Sunday. Nationals manager Dusty Baker reportedly is considering giving Scherzer extra rest, so the Mets may get a reprieve.

The Nationals own a 9 1/2-game lead on the second-place Mets. So the Mets' sole path to reaching the postseason clearly is via the wild card. On a light night in MLB on Thursday, the Mets (69-65) dropped two games behind the St. Louis Cardinals for the second wild-card spot. ThePittsburgh Pirates trail the Cardinals by 2 1/2 games. The Miami Marlinstrail by three games.

 

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• Mets are hurting, but September schedule leaves room for optimism

Brace yourself: Terry Collins declined to say that Jacob deGrom will make his next start but won't elaborate on why deGrom summoned trainer Ray Ramirez. "I really can't discuss that just yet," Collins said.

Terry Collins expects Steven Matz will resume throwing on Monday in Port St. Lucie, while the team heads out on the road. Matz was unable to return from the DL this week because of a continued issue with a shoulder impingement.

 

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The Mets lineup for Friday's 7:10 p.m. ET series opener against the Nationals at Citi Field:

Reyes, 3B
Cabrera, SS
Cespedes, LF
Bruce, RF
Flores, 1B
Granderson, CF
Johnson, 2B
Rivera, C
Syndergaard, RHP





Amazin's must absolutely win 2 of these 3 games.

 

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deGrom has elbow inflammation....

Report: Mets' deGrom has inflammation in elbow

 

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Harper, Nats win 4th in row, steal it from Syndergaard, Mets



The schedule softens afterward, but first the Mets must navigate a challenging weekend against the first-place Nationals. It did not begin well. The Mets mustered only a solo homer from Asdrubal Cabrera in a 4-1 loss in Friday's opener. The Mets remained two games behind St. Louis for the second wild card. Noah Syndergaard allowed two runs in seven innings. Hansel Robles then allowed a pair of runs inherited from ex-Nat Jerry Blevins to score in the ninth.


Noah Syndergaard retired the final 10 batters he faced in a seven-inning outing against the Nationals on Friday. Syndergaard allowed two runs on three hits and a walk while striking out four. The Nationals did steal four bases against him. Syndergaard departed at 109 pitches with the Mets trailing 2-1.

 

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SF,St.L,NYM, Pitt, & Mia. all lost.....

Wild Card Watch.....9/2

WC #1
Giants +1.5

WC #2
Cardinals

Mets - 2.0
Pirates -2.5
Marlins -3.0
Rockies -5.5

 

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• Morning Briefing: And now the rookies face the Nats

NEW YORK -- After failing to win the series opener Friday with their stud on the mound, the New York Mets now turn to a pair of rookies.

Robert Gsellman will face Washington Nationals right-hander Tanner Roark on Saturday at 7:10 p.m. ET at Citi Field. Seth Lugo then starts Sunday’s series finale.

The Nationals apparently have scratched Max Scherzer for Sunday's start to give him extra rest. Reynaldo Lopez is now listed as the starter for the rain-threatened series finale opposite Mets rookie Seth Lugo.

 

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Here is the Mets lineup for Saturday's 7:10 p.m. ET game against the Nationals at Citi Field:

Reyes, 3B
Cabrera, SS
Cespedes, LF
Granderson, RF
Flores, 2B
Conforto, CF
d'Arnaud, C
Loney, 1B
Gsellman, RHP

 

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Rafael Montero will start Tuesday in Cincinnati in place of Jacob deGrom assuming rain doesn't affect the rotation beforehand. Montero is due to pitch for Double-A Binghamton on Saturday night, but his outing will be abbreviated, according to Terry Collins. Montero tossed five scoreless innings against the Marlins last Monday when deGrom was skipped, but Montero also walked six batters and threw 100 pitches in that outing. DeGrom (forearm inflammation) plans to stay in New York when the Mets hit the road and expects to resume throwing within days.

Lucas Duda has started swinging at soft-tossed pitches in Port St. Lucie and may take full batting practice by the end of the week. The Mets are not dismissing a return before the end of the regular season.

Neil Walker's microdiscectomy surgery is expected to occur this week in New York to address a herniated disk that caused numbness in a toe. Walker estimated a full recovery after three months.

Zack Wheeler has been shut down for the remainder of the season and is not scheduled to pick up a baseball again until he is gearing up for spring training. Wheeler's latest setback was diagnosed roughly two weeks ago as a flexor muscle strain. He has not returned to the majors since undergoing Tommy John surgery in March 2015.

 

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Fuck Yes!!!!

• Gsellman, Mets top Nats 3-1 to move within game of wild card

• The kids can play! Decimated Mets beat Nats behind rookie pitcher

 

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Wild Card Watch.....9/3

WC #1
Giants +2.5

WC #2
Cardinals

Mets - 1.0
Pirates -2.5
Marlins -3.0
Rockies -5.5

 

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• Morning Briefing: There's a storm brewin'

• Mets regret letting Daniel Murphy leave, but they had their reasons

 

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The Mets lineup for their (weather permitting) series finale game on ESPN Sunday Night Baseball against the Nats at Citi Field:

Jose Reyes – 3B
Asdrubal Cabrera – SS
Yoenis Cespedes – LF
Curtis Granderson – CF
Wilmer Flores – 2B
Jay Bruce – RF
James Loney - 1B
Rene Rivera – C
Seth Lugo - RHP

 

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Terry Collins told reporters at Citi Field that Jacob deGrom, who will be skipped Tuesday because of forearm inflammation, is likely to miss multiple starts.

 

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Amazin's take 2 of 3 from the Nats...

• Lugo, backed by HR support, pitches Mets past Nationals 5-1

 

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Wild Card Watch.....9/4

WC #1
Giants +1.5

WC #2
Cardinals
Mets - 1.0

Pirates -3.5
Marlins -4.0
Rockies -6.5