MMO Game Thread: Mets vs Nationals, 7:05 PM

New York Mets (4-7) vs. Washington Nationals (3-4)
LHP Steven Matz (0-1, 3.18) | LHP Patrick Corbin (0-0, 1.42)
Tuesday, Aug. 4, 2020 l 7:05 p.m.

As of 2 PM, the game tonight hasn’t been cancelled, so here we go! The Mets and the Nationals will try to play some baseball tonight as long as the weather holds out.

It has been a very different last couple of days for both teams. The Mets were in the midst of a terrible losing streak that they ended last night behind Jacob deGrom. However, one day after Cespedes opted out of the season, the Mets had to play without Jeff McNeil, Robinson Cano and Amed Rosario for all or part of the game due to injuries. So if your line of thinking this season has been something about the Mets cramming as much Mets like behavior as they can one season, then you probably feel vindicated right now.

Mets Lineup

1. Brandon Nimmo – LF
2. J.D. Davis – 3B
3. Pete Alonso – 1B
4. Wilson Ramos – DH
5. Michael Conforto – RF
6. Brian Dozier – 2B
7. Ryan Cordell – CF
8. Andres Gimenez – SS
9. Tomas Nido – C

Nationals Lineup

1. Trea Turner – SS
2. Adam Eaton – RF
3. Howie Kendrick – 1B
4. Asdrubal Cabrera – DH
5. Starlin Castro – 2B
6. Josh Harrison – LF
7. Carter Kieboom – 3B
8. Yan Gomes – C
9. Victor Robles – CF

The Nationals have had the whole weekend off, and a scheduled off-day yesterday. They were supposed to go down to Miami for the weekend but those games were cancelled due to the outbreak on the Marlins team. The Nationals also have an off day on Thursday. So if the game doesn’t happen tonight, they’ll go 5 days without playing, have a doubleheader tomorrow, and then another off-day. Crazy.

Steven Matz will get the start for the Mets tonight. He has allowed 4 runs off 10 hits in 11.1 innings this year (3.18 ERA) while walking 3 and striking out 10. Steven had a dominate start against Atlanta to open up the season, 1 run over 6.0 innings from 2 hits and an average start against Boston allowing 3 runs on 5.1 runs. Tonight will be his first road start of the year. He made two starts against the Nationals last season, allowing 1 run from 12 hits and 6 walks while striking out 15 batters in 11.0 innings. The Nationals have the following numbers against him:

• Josh Harrison 4-9, 3B, HR, 2 K
• Victor Robles 2-6, HR, BB, 2 K
• Trea Turner 8-25, 3 2B, 2 BB, 2 K
• Starlin Castro 7-23, 2B, HR, 5 K
• Adam Eaton 4-11, BB, K
• Michael Taylor 4-23, HR, 2 BB, 13 K
• Yan Gomes 1-6, 2 BB, 3 K
• Howie Kendrick 2-13, 3 K

The Mets bats will get a look at Patrick Corbin making his second start of 2020. In his first start he allowed 1 run on 2 hits and no walks while striking out 8 over 6.1 innings. Last year he made 33 starts and pitched 202.0 innings with a 3.25 ERA, 3.49 FIP, 1.183 WHIP and a 139 ERA+, the best ERA+ of his career. He made more starts against the Mets last year than any other team, making 5 starts and pitching 31.0 innings allowing 12 runs on 26 hits with 8 walks and 39 strikeouts. Homers were his big weakness against the Mets, giving up 7 bombs over the year. The Mets have the following numbers against him:

• Michael Conforto 7-19, 2B, 4 HR, BB, 6 K
• J.D. Davis 5-18, 2 2B, 3 HR, BB, 6 K
• Pete Alonso 4-14, 2 2B, HR, BB, 7 K
• Robinson Cano 2-11, HR, BB, 3 K
• Amed Rosario 3-22, 2B, 2 HR, BB, 3 K
• Brandon Nimmo 3-12, BB, 6 K
• Wilson Ramos 1-12, HR, 2 BB, 2 K
• Jeff McNeil 1-9, BB, 3 K
• Brian Dozier 0-3, K

Overall, players on the Mets roster have had 134 PA’s against Corbin and have hit 12 homers, but only have 26 hits leading to a fascinating line of .208/.261/.544/.805.

Game Notes

Before the game, speedy outfielder Billy Hamilton has been added to the 30-man roster.

Let’s Go Mets!