The Mets begin a three-game series with the Nationals, one that has major playoff implications for New York, tonight at 7:05 in Washington.
The Mets, currently coming off a horrendous three-game sweep at the hands of the Atlanta Braves, desperately need a series win here. Not only do they need wins mentally, but this series is very important for the Mets playoff chances. If they blow it here in Washington and are swept, they may fall too far behind to ever catch up in the division. Plus, with the way some of the Wild Card contenders are playing right now, the Mets could find themselves in a hole there as well.
The Nationals come into this series 18-13 since last meeting the Mets before the long stretch of interleague play began. Their lineup has been suspect this season, but have caught fire recently, in part thanks to Ian Desmond. Desmond, 26, is having the best power season of his career. Over his past 31 games, Desmond has nine home runs and 26 RBI. He is also second on the Nationals in stolen bases with 13 on the season. Desmond has been an overall threat that the Mets will have to look out for.
On the pitching side, the Nationals have continued to dominate. They are still tops in the majors in ERA, WHIP, batting average against, and quality starts, among others. Luckily for the Mets, they won’t have to face Stephen Strasburgh, who will go against Atlanta on Friday. However, they will still have to face some tough opposing pitchers for the Nats and it will certainly be a tough series for the Mets to take.
Game 1- Tonight 7:05
Jonathon Niese (7-4, 3.73 ERA) vs. Ross Detwiler (4-3, 3.43 ERA)
Game 2- Wednesday 7:05
Chris Young (2-3, 4.28 ERA) vs. Jordan Zimmerman (6-6, 2.48 ERA)
Game 3- Thursday 12:35
R.A. Dickey (12-1, 2.66 ERA) vs. Gio Gonzalez (12-4, 2.93 ERA)
Notes:
- Jason Bay will return to the Mets today after suffering a concussion on June 15 against the Reds. Bay has only played in 22 games this season.
- While it’s the Washington rotation that gets the attention, the bullpen isn;t too shabby either. They have a top ten bullpen, led by Tyler Clippard, who has 14 saves this year and a 1.83 ERA.
- Gio Gonzalez pitched very well to start the season, but has only been decent lately. The lefty has a 4.11 ERA over his past eight starts, compared to a 2.04 mark the rest of the season.
- Bryce Harper has struggled of late. Over his last 25 games, Harper is hitting just .229 with one home run and six RBI.
- Ian Desmond suffered an oblique injury in this weekend’s series against the Marlins, but will probably be ready to go for this series.
14 comments
Stickguy
7/17/2012-11:01am at 11:01 am (UTC -4)
technically too early for any game to be must win or serious to be critical, but this one certainly has a lot of implications. Not the least of which is, it could be the tipping point to the FO as to whether they should bother to patch holes, or give up and become sellers.
just look at the potential standings going into 7/20 (10 days until the trade deadline.)
Mets sweep, and 3 GB in the division, and the Braves debacle is a distant memory.
Nats Sweep, mets are 9 GB, and in a massive freefall (and not above .500 for the first tie all year).
No, .500 even on 7/20 does not eliminate you from playoff contention, but will anyone, FO included, be taking the team at all seriously following back to back sweeps by the cream of the division?
I would say that 2-3 by the mets is absolute minimum to keep the ship afloat.
though sadistically, seeing the FO go into sell mode will be fun, just to see the lunatic fringe have their heads explode.
srt
7/17/2012-1:19pm at 1:19 pm (UTC -4)
Can’t believe some are still talking about losing Beltran and KRod last season. Time to move on already.
Stickguy
7/17/2012-2:37pm at 2:37 pm (UTC -4)
some sites are almost unreadable at this pint (not allowed to mention any names though) with the incessant BS complaining about the FO, making up nonsense conspiracy theories, and looking at everything with 20-20 hindsight.
For the life of me, I can’t figure out how people go from “the FO made some moves that did not turn out great” to “the FO does not give a crap if they win, they refuse to try if they are in the hunt, and the only goal is to moneyball”
makes no logical sense on any level, but I guess that there explains the core!
someone contradictory anyway to say the FO did “nothing” but then turn around and complain that they made bad/rash/etc. moves. Pick one please!
Paul Festa
7/17/2012-11:24am at 11:24 am (UTC -4)
Cool featured image.
ConnorUAF
7/17/2012-11:37am at 11:37 am (UTC -4)
Thanks. I made it.
SaltyGary
7/17/2012-3:21pm at 3:21 pm (UTC -4)
I was thinking the same thing when I first saw it. Awesome job man.
Connor O'Brien
7/17/2012-5:53pm at 5:53 pm (UTC -4)
I’ll make some more for the upcoming series.
srt
7/17/2012-1:18pm at 1:18 pm (UTC -4)
Nice job again on this preview. I like the Notes that are always added.
Glad we’re missing Strasburg. Match-ups aren’t too bad….that is if our SP gets back on track here.
Is Terry going to ask the ump to check Harper’s bat for excessive pine tar? LOL.
NJstuckinTX
7/17/2012-3:48pm at 3:48 pm (UTC -4)
Per Messblog. Bay Activated, the Q is DFA’d.
oklahoma met
7/17/2012-4:37pm at 4:37 pm (UTC -4)
Seeing Cedeno, Bay, and Nickeas in the lineup makes me cringe. Especially knowing that this, as the title says, is a critical series.
Stickguy
7/17/2012-6:27pm at 6:27 pm (UTC -4)
what a wonderful 2-fer for Met fans today.
Bay activated and back in the lineup and hitting 5th, and Batista lined up to start Saturday.
Now I know how Yankee fans feel!
Hazmet
7/17/2012-7:14pm at 7:14 pm (UTC -4)
I’m probably overly sensitive but at least you’re spared the indignity of walking into a local Dunkin’ Donuts and seeing an 8 foot poster of Terry Collins and Joe Girardi shoulder to shoulder sipping Coolata’s or whatever they are. Living in the belly of the beast it’s just everywhere and supremely irritating considering how badly we gagged against them this year.
gategem
7/17/2012-7:27pm at 7:27 pm (UTC -4)
You mean the Mets are playing .618 baseball and have a 9 game lead in the division? ,-)
Hazmet
7/17/2012-7:29pm at 7:29 pm (UTC -4)
Meaningful games in July. woot!