Game Chat: Mets vs Nationals, 6:45 PM

Monday, July 1, 2024 • 6:45 PM
Nationals Park • Washington, DC
LHP David Peterson (3-0, 3.67) vs. LHP MacKenzie Gore (6-7, 3.60)
SNY • MLBN

The Mets and Nationals last met near the start of June, and the Mets swept the Nationals, really kicking off the tremendous month of June that the Mets had. At the time, the Nationals were four games below .500, and the sweep (plus an additional loss) pushed them to seven games below. The Nationals then channeled the Mets and won eight of nine games. Since that hot streak, the Nationals have cooled off a bit and are now five games below .500.

The coming two weeks will be a major test for the Mets. They have had a tremendously difficult schedule for the first half of the season and now have a lighter two weeks. Does their June magic spill into July?

Mets Lineup

1. Francisco Lindor, SS
2. Harrison Bader, CF
3. J.D. Martinez, DH
4. Pete Alonso, 1B
5. Mark Vientos, 3B
6. Tyrone Taylor, RF
7. Francisco Alvarez, C
8. Jose Iglesias, 2B
9. Jeff McNeil, LF

David Peterson has made five starts this season, tossing 27 innings with a 3.67 ERA, 5.01 FIP, 1.481 WHIP and a 106 ERA+. In his last two starts, he has allowed only three runs over 10 1/3 innings on seven hits and eight walks while striking out 14 batters. His last two starts have featured season-highs in both strikeouts and walks. On a positive note, he has tossed 100+ pitches in his last two starts after not getting to 90 in his first three. However, 103 pitches only got him through 4 1/3 innings.

Peterson faced the Nationals back on June 4 and held them to two runs over 6 2/3 innings, and the Mets would love another deep start like that one tonight. The Nationals have the following career numbers against him:

• CJ Abrams 2-9, K
• Luis García Jr. 3-12, 3 K
• Joey Meneses 3-8, 2 2B, 2 BB, K
• Keibert Ruiz 2-10, K
• Nick Senzel 4-9, 2B, HR, K
• Lane Thomas 2-9, 2B, 2 BB, K
• Ildemaro Vargas 4-9, 2 2B, K
• Jesse Winker 2-4, 2B, K
• Jacob Young 2-2, BB

Opposing Lineup

1. CJ Abrams, SS
2. Lane Thomas, RF
3. Harold Ramírez, DH
4. Joey Meneses, 1B
5. Ildemaro Vargas, 2B
6. James Wood, LF
7. Keibert Ruiz, C
8. Nick Senzel, 3B
9. Jacob Young, CF

MacKenzie Gore has made 16 starts pitching 85 innings this season with a 3.60 ERA, 3.14 FIP, 1.388 WHIP and a 109 ERA+. Gore’s June got off to a rough start thanks to the Mets, who tagged him for six runs over four innings on seven hits and four walks. He then allowed four earned runs over 17 innings over his next three starts before ending the month with another rough start (five runs in five innings). The Mets have the following career numbers against him:

• Pete Alonso 1-10, HR, BB, K
• Francisco Alvarez 0-2, 2 BB, K
• Harrison Bader 1-3
• José Iglesias 3-4
• Francisco Lindor 1-9, BB
• J.D. Martinez 1-4, HR, BB, K
• Jeff McNeil 6-7, BB
• Brandon Nimmo 3-11, 2B, BB, K
• Tyrone Taylor 1-5, HR, K
• Luis Torrens 0-2, 2 K
• Mark Vientos 1-3, HR, 2 BB, K

Game Notes

• Mike Puma of the New York Post reported that Brandon Nimmo slipped in his hotel bathroom last night and cut his forehead. He was treated at a local hospital, and according to Carlos Mendoza, is doing okay.

Three Things To Watch For

1. OMG, it’s Jeff McNeil in left field. The Mets are giving Brandon Nimmo the night off tonight, and he was due for some time off. With the injury to Starling Marte, the Mets are getting a little creative tonight putting José Iglesias at second and Jeff McNeil in left. McNeil has already played six games in the outfield, all in left, this season which is fairly sharp decline from last year where he played 68 in the outfield.
2. James Wood. The Nationals welcome the Mets to DC with James Wood’s Major League debut. MLB Pipeline has Wood as Washington’s No. 1 prospect and the No. 3 prospect overall in baseball. He found his way to the Nationals via the Juan Soto trade with the Padres in 2022. The Nationals hope James Wood can give their lineup the pop it has been missing. Over 52 games in Rochester, Wood is hitting .353/.463/.595 with ten homers. Overall, he has 26 extra-base hits (out of 67 total hits) and 10 stolen bases.
3. MLB Deferment Day. Hopefully, by now, you have read Mike Mayer’s fantastic annual thread on MLB Deferments. Remember, it’s not just Bobby Bonilla. If you’re watching the Nationals local broadcast or MLB Network’s national broadcast, you’ll probably hear more about the Mets and Bobby Bonilla than other teams. Today is also the day the Nationals pay Max Scherzer $15 million while he plays for another team!

Let’s go Mets!

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