If the game happens tonight (because it has been raining pretty much for two days straight) then the Mets will try to end their three game slide against the Nationals tonight with a pitcher (Redding) that they pretty much hung out to dry in his last start. Things haven't got any easier for the Mets who now have lost for Reyes for what looks like a good chunk of time, and now have lost Putz for what preliminary reports suggest 8 to 10 weeks. Anyway the Nationals are really on a bad stretch as well so the Mets are going to need to beat up on them to get ready for a tough schedule in June, but more importantly get some confidence behind injuries. Redding has made three starts for the Mets this year and only his first one was good. Since then he has really struggled. He is 0-2 on the year with a 9.20 ERA over 14.2 innings pitched. Since he pitched with the Nationals last year, he has limited AB against the Nationals. Willhingham has seen him the most and he is 5-13, 2 HR. Dunn is 3-12, Kearns 1-4 and Belliard 0-2. One story tonight is whether or not pitchers do better when they face their own team or if hitters do better. Its an interesting debate, and we will see some of the story unfold tonight.
Don't let the 5-1 record fool you, Martis has been struggling this year as well. He has pitched 57.2 innings this year and has a 5.62 ERA. In his last three starts he is 0-1 over 16.0 IP, and has a 9.56 ERA. He pitched against the Mets once last year and he lasted 3 innings, 5 hits, 6 earned runs, 2 BB and 4 K. Here are some Mets stats against Martis:
Beltran 1-1, HR
Murphy 1-2, 3B
Wright 0-2
Hopefully the Mets can snap out of this funk tonight and show the world why they were 19-9 in May despite being injured. Lets go Mets! Beat the Nats!
