I.G.T. 7/31/15 Harvey Day Mets v. Nats

[ashie62]

Dark days call for the Dark Knight. Gio G. for them on yhe hill.

Gitter done.

LGM!!!

[Guest d'Kong76]

Washington at NY Mets
When: 7:10 PM ET, Friday, July 31, 2015
Where: Citi Field, New York City, New York
SportsDirect Inc.

The New York Mets had crawled within one game of first place in the National League East earlier in the week but find themselves three back of the first-place Washington Nationals, who come to town Friday for the opener of a three-game series. The Mets must regroup from a crushing defeat, blowing a six-run lead at home for the first time in 45 years in Thursday's 8-7 loss to San Diego.

Ace Matt Harvey takes the mound for New York looking to register back-to-back victories for the first time since winning his first five starts this season. The Mets suddenly have issues at the back end of their bullpen as closer Jeurys Familia suffered his third straight blown save since the All-Star break. Washington unveiled its revamped bullpen Thursday as new acquisition Jonathan Papelbon nailed down his first save with the team in a 1-0 victory at Miami. The Nationals won two of three versus New York last week before embarking on their current 10-game road trip, on which they are 3-4.

TV: 7:10 p.m. ET, MASN (Washington), SNY (New York)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Nationals LH Gio Gonzalez (8-4, 3.83 ERA) vs. Mets RH Matt Harvey (9-7, 3.16)

Gonzalez has turned his season around over the past five weeks, going 4-0 while surrendering a total of five earned runs over his last five starts. Gonzalez, who has not permitted more than six hits in a game during his unbeaten streak, gave up one earned run in five innings to beat Pittsburgh last time out. He improved to 9-4 with a 2.88 ERA against the Mets by limiting them to two runs over six innings on July 20.

Harvey allowed two runs on seven hits over seven innings last time out and was backed by 15 runs - more than he received in his previous six starts combined - in a rout of the Los Angeles Dodgers. He struggled in his previous outing at Washington, allowing five runs (four earned) over seven innings of a 7-2 loss. Harvey is 3-2 with a 1.34 ERA in seven starts versus the Nationals and has held Bryce Harper to 0-for-14 with seven strikeouts.

WALK-OFFS:
1. Mets 1B Lucas Duda has homered six times in the last five games but is only 3-for-17 against Gonzalez.
2. Nationals CF Michael Taylor has three homers and six RBIs during a six-game hitting streak.
3. Mets C Travis d'Arnaud (elbow) was activated off the 15-day disabled list Thursday and C Anthony Recker was demoted to Triple-A Las Vegas.

[Frayed Knot]

What the Nationals will have for this series that they haven't for most of the times we've seen them this year: Ryan Zimmerman back at 1B, Jayson Werth back in RF, Anthony Rendon at 3rd, Jonathan Papelbon closing. Of their planned starters, only CF Denard Span is still out, Michael Taylor continues to sub in.

These returns/additions helps out their bench as now the guys who have been starting (and for the most part succeeding) like Clint Robinson & Danny Espinosa get moved to fill-in work.
And the acquisition of Papelbon allows them to move former closers Drew Storen to the 8th and Casey Janssen to the 7th -- there's 528 career saves among that trio.


Same pitching trios as the last series match-up: Harvey vs Gio Gonzalez, deGrom vs Joe Ross (just saw his brother w/SD), and Syndergaaaaard vs Zimmermannnnnn
All games at night (boooo) including Sunday's
Last time out you will recall we lost the Harvey/Gonzalez match, won the middle game and then were winning the finale when Parnell blew up the 8th inning.

[ashie62]

Prepare to battle.

[TransMonk]

Welcome back Travis! Try not to get hurt again.

[Guest d'Kong76]

Rendon 2B
Escobar 3B
Werth LF
Harper RF
Zimmerman 1B
Desmond SS
Taylor CF
Lobaton C
Gonzalez LHP

[dgwphotography]

I'm calling for Cespedes debuting with a pinch hit, walk-off homer in the bottom of the ninth tonight...

I can dream, can't I?

[Centerfield]

That's a bit far-fetched.

You can't walk off if you are already up 11-0.

[Frayed Knot]

Flores's first play of the game makes Yunel Escobar cry.

[Zvon]

WOW!!!!
*shakes head to see if that was real*

WOW! Flores makes one of the best plays I've ever seen a 2nd baseman make. Amazin'.

[Edgy MD]

I need a Flores bobblehead.

[Lefty Specialist]

They've run up Gio's pitch count but they needed a knockout hit there and didn't get it.

[Edgy MD]

Oh, well, got into the pen.

I was tempted there to send Duda up for Uribe.

[Edgy MD]

This is astounding.

A margin for error would sure be nice, though.

[Edgy MD]

Perfection has to wait until another day.

[Zvon]

Matt will get his someday.


Soon.

1-0 Mets. Come on guys, lets go.

[Edgy MD]

Got out of that jam.

Waddaya think? Would you have gone to Duda for Uribe?

[Zvon]

Edgy MD wrote: Got out of that jam. Waddaya think? Would you have gone to Duda for Uribe?

In the 5th? No. It didn't even occur to me.

[ashie62]

Cmon guys, a couple of runs please.

[Lefty Specialist]

Once again, no margin for error. Hoping Cespedes can help with this problem.

[Edgy MD]

It's Cheapie Hit Night suddenly.

[Zvon]

Getting Bryce is nice.

HUGE!

[Zvon]

Lefty Specialist wrote: Once again, no margin for error. Hoping Cespedes can help with this problem.

How could he not?

[Edgy MD]

.
.
Shmagares!!![/bigpurple]

[Zvon]

wh-ew

Laggy can still track em down.

[Edgy MD]

Really ought to be pinch-hitting for Campy here. Four lefties on the bench, man.

[Zvon]

Edgy MD wrote: Really ought to be pinch-hitting for Campy here. Four lefties on the bench, man.

TCs saving them for something.

[Lefty Specialist]

So who's a bit nervous if Harvey goes 8 and they turn it over to Familia?

[Edgy MD]

I'm excited to hear there's something he's saving them for.

But really, we've muscled up the depth, it's time to use it. And letting Campbell face a righty in the late innings of a one-run game while Conforto, Duda, Johnson, and Niewenhuis play a foursome of bridge in the clubhouse ain't using it.

[Fman99]

I do not think the ball hit him. Get back in the box, Sally.