Many of us have said this series with the Mets is like the playoffs. The implications are huge for tonight. If these are like the playoffs then we can hope the results from JZim are like Game 2 of the 2014 playoffs where JZim went 8 2/3 personally giving up no runs, and that’s how you beat another team’s ace—you just pitch better than them.
Harvey brings his 166 1/3 cumulative innings of work to the mound. Harvey in his last start vs the Phillies gave up 4 earned in 6 1/3 innings. Also, Harvey has a road ERA of 2.80 this sesaon, and Jordan Zimmermann has a home ERA of 2.52 this season. It makes this for a good showdown of pitchers on virtual paper.
If you’re going to the game which I expect many of you are, stay longer so we don’t have a repeat of this: BRYCE HARPER UNHAPPY WITH FANS EARLY EXIT
If you’re not at the stadium, join in the conversation here!
#Nats vs. #Mets: Werth LF, Rendon 2B, Harper RF, Escobar 3B, Robinson 1B, Desmond SS, Ramos C, Taylor CF, #JZimm P pic.twitter.com/fyDtgJ1qyH
— Washington Nationals (@Nationals) September 8, 2015
Lineup notes below.
Harvey throws a 4-seamer avering 95+ and can ramp it up to 98mph. He throws an occasional sinker mixed with a hard slider at 90 and a curve at 84, and also has a change-up. Harvey throws strikes and will let his stuff play in the zone and hope you are sitting fastball and not react in time to his off-speed.
Nats who have done well against him is Wilson Ramos 3-6 .500 BA, Uggla 2-7, Desi a .348 OBP w/ a HR, and then Werth-Escobar-Espinosa are all .250 BAs against him. RZ has a HR against Harvey with a .235 BA.
Bryce Harper is a career .000 in 17 at-bats. Is tonight the night Bryce gets a “rest” day? What would you do?
The Nats line-up is:
- Werth LF
- Rendon 2B
- Harper RF
- Esco 3B
- CRob 1B
- Desi SS
- Ramos C
- MAT CF
- JZim P
UPDATED—BREAKING: Joe Ross will be assigned to the Bullpen and Tanner Roark will take his place in the rotation to take his spot. Ross showed signs of fatigue and this was expected given his dropoff in production the last few starts. We made this suggestion months ago that Ross would be suited well to short inning appearances where stamina wouldn’t be an issue. Also breaking news, Ryan Zimmerman out with left oblique soreness not plantar fasciitis and is considered day-to-day. Ryan said he hurt the oblique on a swing yesterday although anyone who saw his awkward slide into home where he lost his balance and drove his left shoulder into the ground and rolled over was a concern at the time and then he appeared to have trouble running the bases over the weekend.
Mike Rizzo agreed with us on the “must win” tonight and this is what he said, “We have to win now. Tonight is a must win game. Every game we lose is another day ticked off the calendar.”
Rizzo also had thoughts on Bryce’s comments yesterday about fans leaving the game early in the 7th inning. Rizzo chalked it up to emotions after a tough game and said Bryce is a player “who wears his heart on his sleeve”.
