
The Mets look to take the series tonight in DC! Monday night the Mets and Nationals were locked in a back-and-forth type game with the Mets eventually taking an 8-5 lead. Things were looking good for the Mets until the ninth inning where things almost fell apart. The Mets were able to squeak by with an 8-7 win. Did Monday’s game finally exorcise the Mets demons?
David Peterson looks to give the Mets what starting pitchers have struggled too in the last week – length. In his 2024 debut last week he tossed five innings allowing three runs, two earned, off seven hits and a walk. He tossed 86 pitches facing 22 batters. As a starter against the Nationals last season he allowed six runs from nine hits and two walks over five innings. Later in the season he faced the Nationals in relief, totaling four innings over two games holding the Nationals to one unearned run from four hits. The Nationals have the following career numbers against him:
- CJ Abrams 1-5, K
- Luis García Jr. 3-12, 3 K
- Joey Meneses 3-6, 2 2B, BB, K
- Eddie Rosario 1-2
- Keibert Ruiz 2-7, BB
- Nick Senzel 4-6, 2B, HR, BB
- Lane Thomas 2-7, 2B, 2 BB, K
- Ildemaro Vargas 4-6, 2 2B
- Jesse Winker 1-2, 2B
The Mets will face an old friend tonight in Trevor Williams who is now in his second season with the Nationals. Williams was a critical piece of the 2022 Mets team, putting up a 3.21 ERA, 3.88 FIP, 1.227 WHIP and a 120 ERA+ over 30 games including nine starts. In 2024 he’s having a career year at age 32. Over 11 starts spread out over 56 2/3 innings he has a 2.22 ERA, 2.78 FIP, 1.076 WHIP and a 178 ERA+. Over his last two starts he has allowed one earned run from nine hits while striking out 12 batters. He’s allowed one earned run or less in seven of his last eight starts.
The Mets got his number though last year, scoring 10 runs from 18 hits over 11 1/3 innings in three starts. The Mets have the following career numbers against Trevor:
- Pete Alonso 3-13, 2B, HR, BB, 2 K
- Harrison Bader 6-15, 2B, 4 K
- José Iglesias 2-8, 3B
- Francisco Lindor 4-14, 2 2B, HR, BB, 2 K
- Starling Marte 0-3, BB
- J.D. Martinez 2-5, 2B, HR, 2 K
- Jeff McNeil 4-13, 2B, 3B, 3 BB, 2 K
- Brandon Nimmo 1-10, BB, 4 K
- Tyrone Taylor 0-2
Three Things To Watch For:
- Playing time at second. Jeff McNeil did not start Monday’s game despite having good career numbers against MacKenzie Gore (6-for-7, BB). José Iglesias got the start instead and went 3-for-5 at the plate with two runs scored and a stolen base. Does Mendoza go with the hot hand? If he goes with McNeil, does he pinch hit for him later in the game?
- Mark Vientos. Over his last 12 games Vientos has gone 15-for-42 at the plate with three doubles and four homers. He’s slashing .357/.438/.714 in that stretch. In Monday’s game that translated into two runs scored. This is the exact spark the Mets needed in their lineup.
- What will the Mets bullpen do today? Adrian Houser held things down for the Mets with 2 1/3 scoreless innings on Monday and Drew Smith coming off the injured list finished off the 8th inning for him. Then Ottavino came in for the 9th and the game started to disintegrate. The Mets bullpen just needs a clean end of the game.
Let’s Go Mets!