IGT 07/20 - NYM at WAS - Showtime! Gm l

[Guest d'Kong76]

NY Mets at Washington
When: 7:05 PM ET, Monday, July 20, 2015
Where: Nationals Park, Washington, District of Columbia
SportsDirect Inc.

The New York Mets turn to ace Matt Harvey on Monday night as they continue their brutal post-All-Star break schedule with a three-game series at the National League East-leading Washington Nationals. The Mets, in the midst of playing three straight division leaders, are two games back of Washington after avoiding a three-game sweep by squeezing out a 3-1 victory in 18 innings at St. Louis on Sunday.

Harvey owns a pair of wins over the Nationals this season, working 13 scoreless innings to improve to 3-1 with a microscopic 0.68 ERA in six career starts against Washington. New York could use a similar-type outing from Harvey after it was forced to use six relievers for a total of 10 1/3 innings in Sunday's victory. The Nationals lost two of three over the weekend to the visiting Los Angeles Dodgers, going down meekly in the last two games against aces Clayton Kershaw and Zack Greinke. Washington is 4-3 against the Mets this season, winning the last two games by identical 1-0 scores on May 2-3.

TV: 7:05 p.m. ET, ESPN, SNY (New York), MASN (Washington)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Mets RH Matt Harvey (8-6, 3.07 ERA) vs. Nationals LH Gio Gonzalez (6-4, 3.99)

Harvey ended a three-start drought in his final outing before the break, striking out nine and limiting Arizona to two runs and five hits over seven strong innings. One concern of late for Harvey is a lack of control - he walked nine batters over his past two turns after allowing a total of 17 in his first 15 starts. Harvey has dominated Nationals slugger Bryce Harper, holding him hitless with six strikeouts in 12 at-bats.

Gonzalez closed the first half on a high note, going 2-0 while permitting two runs - both solo homers - and 15 hits in 20 innings over his last three outings. The 29-year-old had one of his best outings against the Mets on May 2, striking out a season-high nine over seven scoreless innings in a 1-0 victory. He is 8-4 with a 2.87 ERA against New York and has held Curtis Granderson, Lucas Duda and Wilmer Flores to a combined 6-for-51.

WALK-OFFS:
1. The Mets tied a franchise record by stranding 25 runners Sunday and are 3-for-62 with runners in scoring position over the past eight games.
2. Nationals 3B Yunel Escobar is 12-for-28 over his last seven games.
3. Mets LF Michael Cuddyer, 9-for-21 over his last six games, had to leave Sunday's game due to an ailing knee and could be shut down by the team.

[ashie62]

Any idea what time the Mets got to DC.

Long flight for Recker to catch tonights game.

It would be such a morale boost to post a win tonight after 18 hot innings and a long flight.

[Edgy MD]

Recker wasn't in the lineup for the 51s, so I'm guessing he got an early flight out of Vegas, but the transaction wasn't finalized until after the Mets game.

[Ceetar]

#Nationals 7/20 Lineup
1.M Taylor
2.D Espinosa
3.B Harper
4.Y Escobar
5.C Robinson
6.I Desmond
7.J Lobaton
8.M Dekker
9.G Gonzalez

[Edgy MD]

Clint Robinson is playing first base there and den Dekker playing left. Lobaton is catching in place of Wilson Ramos.

Adam Rubin has reported that Michael Cuddyer is not in the Mets starting lineup, but the lineup itself isn't posted yet, I assume because they're waiting to see if Giancarlo can fly in by game time.

[Ceetar]

Edgy MD wrote: Clint Robinson is playing first base there and den Dekker playing left. Lobaton is catching in place of Wilson Ramos. Adam Rubin has reported that Michael Cuddyer is not in the Mets starting lineup, but the lineup itself isn't posted yet, I assume because they're waiting to see if Giancarlo can fly in by game time.

Just confirmed in press conference Recker and Mayberry to start, so you can probably piece it together from there.

[Guest sharpie]

1. Curtis Granderson (L) RF

2. Ruben Tejada ® SS

3. Daniel Murphy (L) 3B

4. Wilmer Flores ® 2B

5. John Mayberry Jr. ® LF

6. Eric Campbell ® 1B

7. Juan Lagares ® CF

8. Anthony Recker ® C

9. Matt Harvey ® P

[Lefty Specialist]

Goddammit, they're at it again. Run-repellent.

[Lefty Specialist]

Boy, that was a microcosm of their problems in one inning. Total lack of clutch hitting followed by brain-fart defense.

[ashie62]

If this keeps up a position player may have to toss a couple.

[ashie62]

Lefty Specialist wrote: Goddammit, they're at it again. Run-repellent.

A run repellant lineup.

[Zvon]

5-0!!?? Gah!

Last I saw it was 3-0. Ronnie tried to explain away that rundown situation where they scored and sorry Darling, you're wrong. That was all on Campbell and he fucked up. He allowed himself to be distracted. His primary concern was the guy on third.

Smack one Soupy. Maybe I'll forgive ya.

[Zvon]

wow. Ha!

Matt drives in two!

[ashie62]

Harvey has nothing tonight.

[Edgy MD]

He has the ball. May he flourish with it.

[Zvon]

Lets go, Mets.

[Edgy MD]

Hey, Michael Taylor: BOOOO!!! Don't steal my runs. Who do you think you are? Willie Harris?

[Edgy MD]

Steiner Sports. As if the WOR sponsorship base couldn't get any scummier.

[Zvon]

Nice play Ruben, you shortstop you.

[Zvon]

Very nice play by the squatting Nat.

[Edgy MD]

Blumb.

No time to end an 0-17 slump, Ian Desmond.

[Zvon]

ATorres, you suck.

[Edgy MD]

This game might be within reach of a single swing right now, I lament, if not for that Desmond homer.

[Edgy MD]

A shorter night of it, anyhow.

Tomorrow. You'll get yours tomorrow.