Photo by Marlene Koenig for TalkNats
In 2015, names like Stephen Strasburg, Noah Syndergaard, and Matt Harvey were some of the marquee names in the game of baseball. Today, Stephen Strasburg is still an All-Star and Syndergaard and Harvey have been oft-injured shadows of their 2015 superstar statuses.
The last time the Mets had Noah Syndergaard on the mound was on April 30th when Syndergaard left the game injured with a partial lat tear amidst controversy because there was no MRI performed previously. After the Nationals went on a 23-to-5 offensive demolition of the Mets in that April 3oth game, a young Mets fan added insult to injury when he called Syndergaarad a “Barbie Doll” in this video that he posted after the disaster.
Tonight’s plan is for Syndergaard to start the game and pitch just one inning with Matt Harvey following him in the game. Harvey gave up 7 runs in 4 innings in his last start against the Marlins. It is possible that the “Barbie Doll kid” posts another angry video.
Stephen Strasburg has been one of the best pitchers in baseball this month and had been on a scoreless innings streak that was snapped when Michael Taylor couldn’t squeeze a flyball in a game on Sunday against the Dodgers.
Strasburg’s goal tonight is working towards next week’s game as his final tune-ups for the second game of the NLDS which should be where Stras is seeded in that series.
With the Cubs loss today, the Nationals magic number is two to clinch the home-field-advantage as the #2 seed.
On your Bryce Harper update, he did play in a “sim” game along with Brian Goodwin and Stephen Drew today. Harper had a total of 12 at-bats and faced lefty prospect Alex Troop along with some other Nats pitchers from the farm system.
Bryce said he and Nats haven't ruled out anything — playing in instructs, returning straight to big leagues. No word on next step yet.
— Chelsea Janes (@chelsea_janes) September 23, 2017
For today’s line-up, Adam Lind gets another start at first base and Jayson Werth finally switches back to leftfield which has been his primary position now since 2015 when Bryce Harper took over in rightfield. Andrew Stevenson gets the start tonight in rightfield.
Washington Nationals vs. New York Mets
Stadium: CitiField
1st Pitch: 7:10 pm EDT
TV: MASN, WPIX, MLB.TV
Nats Radio: 106.7 FM The Fan; SiriusXM® (Internet 869)
Line-ups subject to change (without notice):
Here's how we're lining up tonight. pic.twitter.com/ddvaLYfoIo
— Washington Nationals (@Nationals) September 23, 2017
