The Nationals will play host to their division foe, the New York Mets, playing them for the second time this season. However, this time the Nationals look like the better team. Although the Nationals managed to win two of three in the last series, many believed it was a fluke on the Met’s part. New York has only won three of their previous 11 and they are struggling to put runs on the board. The Mets were shutout by the Reds yesterday as they lost their fifth straight series, and they have been on a downward spiral for the last month.
Meanwhile, the Nationals have been improving weekly as they have won seven of their last ten, including defeating the Giants twice previous series. Ever since the Minnsosota series, the Nationals are 11-8 and on an upwards trajectory.
The Nationals have the second-fewest runs in the National League (149), but their pitching has been brilliant recently. The Nationals starting rotation has combined for a 4.37 ERA and a 4.61 FIP. In addition, Washington has a solid pitching gore, with MacKenzie Gore getting the start in the series opener. Gore was one of the main components in the Juan Soto trade, and he’s put up impressive numbers thus far. Gore has registered a 3.65 ERA and 1.0 bWAR in seven starts.
The Nationals sit at the bottom of the N.L. East with a 16-21 record, but they quickly gain ground in the division and the National League. Believe it or not, the Nationals are 2.5 games out of a wild card. It’s still unlikely for the Nationals to play meaningful baseball in October, but it’s a good sign that the rebuild is going well.
Tale of the Tape
| Stats | Nationals | Mets |
|---|---|---|
| Record | 14-20 | 18-19 |
| Divisional Standings | 5th | 3rd |
| All-Time matchup record | ||
| Team Average | .258 (10) | .237 (22) |
| Runs | 149 (26) | 158 (21) |
| Hits | 325 (12) | 287 (26) |
| Home Runs | 24 (29) | 41 (16) |
| K% | 18.4% (1) | 20.2% (2) |
| OBP | .319 (19) | .326 (13) |
| ERA | 4.44 (18) | 4.71 (22) |
| WHIP | 1.42 (25) | 1.34 (19) |
| Run Differential | -21 (19) | -10 (18) |
| Errors | 22 (T-8) | 12 (T-27) |
Scouting the Lineup
| Projected starting lineup | AB | BA | H | HR | RBI | OPS | WAR |
| CF Brandon Nimmo | 138 | .312 | 43 | 3 | 15 | .858 | 1.5 |
| RF Starling Marte | 120 | .217 | 26 | 1 | 8 | .563 | -0.2 |
| SS Francisco Lindor | 143 | .224 | 32 | 6 | 27 | .751 | 1.2 |
| DH Pete Alonso | 141 | .234 | 33 | 13 | 31 | .861 | 0.9 |
| LF Tommy Pham | 59 | .220 | 13 | 3 | 8 | .716 | 0.1 |
| 3B Brett Baty | 65 | .246 | 16 | 2 | 6 | .713 | 0.3 |
| 1B Mark Canha | 115 | .217 | 25 | 3 | 10 | .652 | 0.1 |
| 2B Eduardo Escobar | 63 | .159 | 10 | 3 | 9 | .571 | -0.2 |
| C Francisco Alvarez | 61 | .246 | 15 | 3 | 6 | .735 | 0.5 |
Probable Pitching Matchups
Fri 5/12 – MacKenzie Gore (3-2) 3.65 ERA vs. Tylor Megill (3-2) 4.33 ERA
Game start – 7:05 p.m.
Sat 5/13 – Trevor Williams (1-1) 4.25 vs. TBD
Game start – 4:05 p.m.
Sun 5/15 – Jake Irvin (1-0) 0.84 vs. TBD
Game start – 1:35 p.m.
Mon 5/15 – Patrick Corbin (1-5) 4.87 vs. TBD
Game start – 7:05 p.m.
Betting Nuggets
Favorite: Mets (-131)
Underdog: Nationals (+111)
Over/Under: 9
Injury Report
| Player | Injury | Status | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| OF Victor Robles | Back | 10-day IL | May 8th |
| RHP Chad Kuhl | Foot | 15-day IL | May 1st |
| INF Jeimer Candelario | Right Ankle | Day-to-day | May 10th |
Broadcast Information
Television: Nationals fans will be able to watch all three games against the Mets on MASN. Bob Carpenter will handle play-by-play duties, with Kevin Frandsen as the color analyst. Dan Kolko will report from the field. MASN’s television territory covers all or parts of six states and the District of Columbia, from Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, to Charlotte, N.C., including Maryland, Delaware, Virginia, and West Virginia.
Local Radio: 106.7 is the flagship station of the Washington Nationals. Find all listings here. Play-by-play broadcasters Dave Jageler and Charlie Slowes will call the action. All games will be available to listen to on the radio.
