MMO Game Thread: Mets at Nationals, Doubleheader

Saturday, September 26, 2020 • Doubleheader
Nationals Park • Washington D.C.
Game 1: RHP Jacob deGrom (4-2, 2.14) vs. RHP Max Scherzer (4-4, 3.67)
Game 2: RHP Rick Porcello (1-6, 5.46) vs. RHP Anibal Sanchez (3-5, 6.80)
SNY • WCBS 880 AM • WQBU 92.7 FM

The Mets and Nationals had the night off yesterday thanks to the rain and thanks to San Diego – the Mets are, somehow, mathematically still in it.

To stay in the race, they need to win both games today and the Giants need to lose out, not great odds.

Basically impossible. But the Mets will start with Jacob deGrom in a 7 inning game to set things off.

So rather than Porcello vs Scherzer, we will get deGrom vs Scherzer, a much better pitching match up to watch.

Jacob will be making his 12th and final start of the season where he tossed 63.0 innings with a 2.14 ERA, 1.99 FIP (league leading), 0.921 WHIP and a 197 ERA+.

He is also leading the league in K/9 at 13.4. If he records 6 strikeouts, he will reach 100 on the season this afternoon. A

fter a hamstring shortened outing, he bounced back his last time out against the Rays with a 7.0 inning outing where he allowed 2 runs and the Mets somehow lost.

He tied his season high with 14 K’s in that game. This will be his first game in 2020 against the Nationals, and the Nationals have the following numbers against him:

• Brock Holt 2-6, HR, 3 K
• Yan Gomes 1-2, K
• Victor Robles 3-10, 2 2B, 2 BB, 4 K
• Juan Soto 3-13, 2B, HR, 2 BB, 3 K
• Andrew Stevenson 1-4, 2B, BB
• Trea Turner 11-38, 2B, BB, 13 K
• Josh Harrison 3-12, 5 K

The Mets bats draw Max Scherzer’s last start of the season.

He has pitched 61.1 innings over 11 starts with a 3.67 ERA, 3.18 FIP, 1.386 WHIP, and 125 ERA+.

After a terrible start on 9/13 where he allowed 6 runs over 5.1 innings he rebounded in his last start allowing 2 runs, both unearned, in 5.2 innings against the Marlins.

In a fun, meaningless stat – he’s tossed 119 pitches in back to back games. He had two starts against the Mets in 2020.

He left after the first inning in one start and then the next time he allowed 1 run over 6.0 innings.

The Mets have the following numbers against Max:

• Luis Guillorme 3-4, 2B, K
• Andres Gimenez 1-3, 3B, K
• J.D. Davis 4-9, 2B, 2 K
• Brandon Nimmo 3-21, 2B, HR, 6 BB, 12 K
• Jeff McNeil 3-13, 2B, BB, 3 K
• Robinson Cano 3-21, 2 HR, BB, 5 K
• Amed Rosario 4-15, 2B, 7 K
• Wilson Ramos 4-20, 2B, 2 K
• Todd Frazier 1-13, 2B, 4 K

If the Mets win the first game, then the second game becomes meaningful and Rick Porcello is on the mound!

He’s the exact person you want on the mound in this situation (sarcasm).

In 56.0 innings he has a 5.46 ERA, 3.15 FIP, 1.429 WHIP and a 78 ERA+.

He’s coming off his best start of the year against the Braves where he allowed 1 run and 3 hits over 7.0 innings while striking out 10.

He’s also had success against the Nationals this season – pitching 13.0 innings over two starts allowing only 3 runs.

It would be wonderful for Porcello and all of us watching if he can build off his last start and his earlier two against the Nationals.

The Nationals have the following numbers on Porcello:

• Victor Robles 2-4
• Juan Soto 3-8, 2B, BB, 2 K
• Yan Gomes 6-18, 3 2B, 2 K
• Eric Thames 2-5
• Trea Turner 2-9, HR, K
• Kurt Suzuki 7-29, 2 2B, HR, 4 BB, K
• Asdrubal Cabrera 18-67, 3 2B, 3 BB, 11 K

The Mets bats will get a final 2020 look at Anibal Sanchez. Anibal has had a season to forget.

In 47.2 innings over 10 starts he has a 6.80 ERA, 5.48 FIP, 1.741 WHIP and 67 ERA+.

He’s coming off of one of his better starts this season, holding the Phillies to 1 run over 5.0 innings (this start lowered his ERA from 7.38 to 6.80).

In one start against the Mets this year he allowed 5 runs off 6 hits in 2.2 innings.

The Mets have the following numbers against Sanchez:

• Luis Guillorme 1-1, SB
• Dominic Smith 2-3, 2B, BB
• Pete Alonso 3-7, 2B, HR, BB
• Brandon Nimmo 2-6, HR, 2 BB, K
• J.D. Davis 4-9, 2B, K
• Andres Gimenez 1-2
• Wilson Ramos 9-24, 2 2B, 4 BB
• Robinson Cano 6-21, 2B, 2 BB, 3 K
• Jeff McNeil 1-8, 2B, BB, K

Let’s Go Mets!

Game Notes

The Mets will play their fourth doubleheader of the season today, they are 2-4 in doubleheaders this year.

Among all major league pitchers with at least 50 career starts in day games, deGrom’s 1.82 ERA in day starts is by far the lowest all-time.

Dominic Smith has 32 extra-base hits (21 doubles, one triple, 10 homers) in 49 games this year, he’s reached 30 extra-base hits quicker than any other Met in team history, surpassing the previous mark of 30 in 49 games set by Mike Piazza in 2000.