IGT #162 - Nationals at Mets - 10/4/15

[Gwreck]

Can they win 90 games (and avoid being the first Met playoff team to have fewer since 1973)?

Can they win on the final day, for the fans, for pride, or simply to remind Washington who's boss?

How will Jacob DeGrom do in his final warm-up start?

Will they ever get a hit or score runs again?

All these mysteries, and more, to be solved at 3:10 PM EDT today.

(Whoops, didn't mean to edit the first post)

Edited October 4, 2015 by Guest

[Guest d'Kong76]

GAME: Washington Nationals (83-78) at New York Mets (89-72)
DATE/TIME: Sunday, October 04 - 3:10 PM EST
WHERE: Citi Field, New York City, New York
LINE: N/A TOTAL: N/A
Covers Media Group, Ltd.

The New York Mets look to avoid limping into the postseason when they host the division-rival Washington Nationals on Sunday in the regular-season finale for both clubs. The National League East-champion Mets are slumping at the wrong time, as they've followed a four-game sweep at Cincinnati with five consecutive losses - including a doubleheader against Washington on Saturday that featured Nationals right-hander Max Scherzer's second no-hitter of the season in the nightcap.

The slide put an end to New York's hopes of gaining home-field advantage versus the NL West-winning Los Angeles Dodgers in their Division Series matchup, which will begin next week in Los Angeles. The Mets - who have totaled one run in their last three contests - have failed to register a hit on two occasions in 2015, also falling victim to San Francisco's Chris Heston at home on June 9. Washington, which was picked by many to win the NL East this year, improved to 3-2 on its season-ending six-game road trip by winning both games of Saturday's twinbill. The Nationals would take great pleasure in sweeping the three-game series in New York after the Mets accomplished the feat in Washington in early September to all but secure the division title.

TV: 3:10 p.m. ET, MASN2 (Washington), SNY (New York)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Nationals RH Tanner Roark (4-7, 4.63 ERA) vs. Mets RH Jacob deGrom (14-8, 2.60)

Roark fell to 0-3 in five starts since rejoining the rotation despite giving up only two runs in 6 2/3 innings at Atlanta on Tuesday. The native of Illinois, who turns 29 on Monday, has not won since allowing two runs in 4 1/3 frames of relief against San Francisco on July 4. Roark has been perfect versus New York in his career, going 5-0 with a 3.52 ERA in 10 games (five starts).

DeGrom rebounded from a rough outing against Miami by limiting Cincinnati to one run and five hits over six innings of a win at Cincinnati on Sept. 27. The 27-year-old Floridian, who has lost two straight turns at home, does not figure to go deep into Sunday's contest as he will get the call in Game 1 of the NLDS versus Los Angeles. DeGrom improved to 2-2 in six career starts against the Nationals on Sept. 9, when he allowed two runs over seven frames at Washington.

WALK-OFFS:
1. Nationals C Wilson Ramos became the 14th catcher in major-league history to be behind the plate for three no-hitters, catching both of Scherzer's gems this year as well as Jordan Zimmermann's last season.
2. New York has scored in just one of its last 35 innings.
3. Washington OF Bryce Harper needs one RBI on Sunday to become the first National to drive in 100 runs since Adam LaRoche in 2012.

[Guest d'Kong76]

Gwreck wrote: Can they win on the final day, for the fans, for pride, or simply to remind Washington who's boss?

Really curious to see what kind of lineup TC goes with. Game is
virtually a sell out, would be nice to treat a celebratory crowd of
with a solid showing and big win number 90.

[Guest Mets � Willets Point]

And to think that a few weeks ago I was saying the Mets were in a position to win 95, after initially thinking 90 was the best they would do. Reverting to the mean occurred. I really want them to win 90, but ultimately I want them to win 11 in the postseason.

[Guest d'Kong76]

@cgrand3 RF
#DavidWright 3B
Murphy 2B
@ynscspds CF
Duda 1B
d�Arnaud C
@mconforto8 LF
Tejada SS
@JdeGrom19 P

[Guest Mets Guy in Michigan]

d'Kong76 wrote: @cgrand3 RF #DavidWright 3B Murphy 2B @ynscspds CF Duda 1B d�Arnaud C @mconforto8 LF Tejada SS @JdeGrom19 P

Looks like the A team. Terry wants a win.

[Guest d'Kong76]

90 sounds so much nicer than 89!

[Guest d'Kong76]

Rendon, 3B
Turner, 2B
Harper, RF
Werth, LF
Robinson, 1B
Desmond, SS
Taylor, CF
Severino, C
Roark, P

[ashie62]

Terry needs a win. We have had little momentum for too long now.

[Benjamin Grimm]

I agree, but there are four off days coming up. Any momentum, good or bad, will dissipate over the next four days. Friday is a fresh start, for both teams. I'm not feeling overly optimistic right now about the series against the Dodgers, but it's entirely possible that the Mets will roar back to life by the end of the week.

[Frayed Knot]

Momentum is real. Except for when it's not.

[Guest d'Kong76]

Whether it's carrying you or not, momentum is hard to measure.

[Edgy MD]

Wilmer ain't been answering the bell.

[Benjamin Grimm]

He's been eclipsed by Tejada. I never would have guessed that that would happen, but it has, at least for the time being. I think we can expect to see Ruben get more starts in the postseason than Wilmer does.

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

Wilmer has strep throat.

[Frayed Knot]

Speaking of Wilmers, can anyone name the only other Wilmer in NYM history?

[Benjamin Grimm]

Was he also known as "Vinegar Bend"?

[Benjamin Grimm]

Lucas Duda set a new club records today with his 14th HBP.

[Edgy MD]

d'Arnaud sure was pitched away for a guy in a deep slump.

[Benjamin Grimm]

Colon in for deGrom in the fifth. Nationals hitless through five.

[Benjamin Grimm]

And the Mets, of course, are scoreless.

[Edgy MD]

It'll curious if this gets within reach as a no-hitter, if Terry goes for his best bull penners.

[Edgy MD]

Mets sure have the strikeout pitch working this series.

[Piggiestomatoes]

Can a brother get a run or what?

[Edgy MD]

Yes.

One per 40 innings.

[Edgy MD]

Niese on for the unsupported pitching staff.

[Edgy MD]

Bryce Harper, you are not going to be the batting average champ.

[Edgy MD]

Edgy MD wrote: Niese on for the unsupported pitching staff.

Check that. They're getting defensive support from Doo.

[Edgy MD]

BOOOOOOO!!!

[Benjamin Grimm]

Nationals have their first hit, off of Ruben Tejada's knee. Hopefully he's okay, or we're out of shortstops!