IGT 05/17 - Nats @ Mets

[Edgy MD]

The Test. La Prueba. Tesuto. Die Toets.

Call it what you will, but the Mets have a big chance to tell the leading division rival that they mean business. Noah Syndergaard takes the hill against some guy named Scherzer.

[Lefty Specialist]

Ronnie's been saying for weeks that the season really starts tonight. Let's hope it starts well.

[Guest d'Kong76]

Washington at NY Mets
When: 7:10 PM ET, Tuesday, May 17, 2016
Where: Citi Field, New York City, New York
SportsDirect Inc.

After providing loud statements in their last outings, Max Scherzer and Noah Syndergaard look to make noise at the other's expense on Tuesday when the Washington Nationals open a three-game series at the New York Mets. Scherzer became the fourth pitcher in major-league history to record a 20-strikeout performance on Wednesday for Washington, which has dropped two in a row but still holds a 1 1/2-game lead over reeling New York in the National League East.

"That's the team that beat us," the 2013 American League Cy Young Award winner said of the Mets. "Much respect to what they did last year, and they get all the credit and deserve all the credit. It's just that we want to come in and beat you, simple as that." New York isn't deserving of much credit for the way it has played of late, dropping four straight since Syndergaard belted two homers in a 4-3 win over the Los Angeles Dodgers on Wednesday. The fireballing right-hander will get his first look at Daniel Murphy (majors-best .400 average), who signed a three-year, $37.5 million deal with Washington just months removed from launching homers in six straight postseason games during New York's jaunt to the World Series.

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

PITCHING MATCHUP: Nationals RH Max Scherzer (4-2, 4.15 ERA) vs. Mets RH Noah Syndergaard (3-2, 2.53)

When he wasn't striking out the majority of his former team's roster, Scherzer allowed two runs on six hits in the 3-2 complete-game victory over Detroit. The 31-year-old doesn't need to convince New York of his dominance as he highlighted his second no-hitter in 2015 with 17 strikeouts in a 2-0 victory at Citi Field on Oct. 3. New York's Yoenis Cespedes homered in Sunday's 4-3 loss to Colorado and is 3-for-9 with a blast in his career versus Scherzer.

Syndergaard snapped a two-game skid by allowing two runs on six hits in eight innings versus the Dodgers last time out. The 23-year-old handcuffed the Nationals in his last encounter with them, permitting one run on two hits and striking out 10 in seven innings. Bryce Harper is just 4-for-18 in his last nine games overall, but is 3-for-9 in his career versus Syndergaard.

WALK-OFFS:
1. New York LF Michael Conforto has hit safely in four straight games and six of his last seven overall, but is 3-for-17 in five career contests versus Washington.
2. Three of Nationals 1B Ryan Zimmerman's last five hits have resulted in home runs.
3. Mets 3B David Wright is 2-for-20 with 11 strikeouts in his last six games.

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

Scherzer will shirley get his share of whiffs but has also been vulnerable to the long ball. Look for me in 510 tonight, maybe drinking a craft beer to help Ceetar's research project....

[Zvon]

Why is Duda not in the lineup?

[Guest d'Kong76]

GRANDERSON RF
WRIGHT 3B
CONFORTO LF
CESPEDES CF
WALKER 2B
CABRERA SS
PLAWEKI C
CAMPBELL 1B
SYNDERGAARD P

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

Zvon wrote: Why is Duda not in the lineup?

Well he doesn't look good, I suppose he doesn;t also feel good but this is probably bad nooz for the big fella.

[Ceetar]

John Cougar Lunchbucket wrote: Scherzer will shirley get his share of whiffs but has also been vulnerable to the long ball. Look for me in 510 tonight, maybe drinking a craft beer to help Ceetar's research project....

Not really my project technically, but thanks ;-)

[Zvon]

John Cougar Lunchbucket wrote: Zvon wrote: Why is Duda not in the lineup? Well he doesn't look good, I suppose he doesn;t also feel good but this is probably bad nooz for the big fella.

Not good. I expected fireworks from the Dude this series. Campbell, big chance to be big here.

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

Zvon wrote: Zvon wrote: Why is Duda not in the lineup? Well he doesn't look good, I suppose he doesn;t also feel good but this is probably bad nooz for the big fella. Not good. I expected fireworks from the Dude this series. Campbell, big chance to be big here.

Sandy sez benching is a "manager's decision" -- Doodoo is healthy.

Hmmmm

[Zvon]

According to reports, no injury. Just TCs decision to bench him. I don't know that that will help Duda. Nothing fazes him. He just had a day off. I think he needs to work it out at the plate. I'd love it if Campbell made Shorty look like a genius tonight.

[Ceetar]

Zvon wrote: According to reports, no injury. Just TCs decision to bench him. I don't know that that will help Duda. Nothing fazes him. He just had a day off. I think he needs to work it out at the plate. I'd love it if Campbell made Shorty look like a genius tonight.

he won't, he can't, even if he goes 4/4 that doesn't justify the decision to sit your good hitter for your crappy bench guy.

If he's truly healthy anyway. Need more than a publicly stated report from Alderson to believe that.

[G-Fafif]

Terry said Lucas is a stiff.

Correction: Terry said Lucas has a stiff back.

[Zvon]

Yea, bad back, got shots. ugh. Sounds like he'll be out tomorrow as well. Great.
That's a nice little stomach punch right there.
I've been telling folks to give Campy more of a chance before you dump him in that already dug grave but this is not the way I was hoping it would go.

[Edgy MD]

Ceetar wrote: he won't, he can't, even if he goes 4/4 that doesn't justify the decision to sit your good hitter for your crappy bench guy.

Winning is always good.

[Ceetar]

Edgy MD wrote: Ceetar wrote: he won't, he can't, even if he goes 4/4 that doesn't justify the decision to sit your good hitter for your crappy bench guy. Winning is always good.

you can hit on 19 in blackjack and win, doesn't justify your process.

[TransMonk]

Let the battle begin! I'm very excited for this series.

[fimg=600:1thv8ikp]http://41.media.tumblr.com/8bf025ecc11d370b3cac3fea728a1c50/tumblr_np0wybQ89m1qgjv49o1_1280.jpg[/fimg:1thv8ikp]

[TransMonk]

Lucas Duda Out Of Lineup With Back Issue

Mets Merized Online wrote: First baseman Lucas Duda is out the lineup with a back issue according to manager Terry Collins and not �benched�as general manager Sandy Alderson first described it. Collins says Duda was �pretty stiff� over the weekend and was treated with an injection Monday after being examined by team doctors. Duda, 30, is batting .236 with a .299 OBP and .447 slugging over 137 plate appearances this season. He has hit seven home runs and collected 19 RBI while striking out 27 times.

[Edgy MD]

Ceetar wrote: he won't, he can't, even if he goes 4/4 that doesn't justify the decision to sit your good hitter for your crappy bench guy.

We'll see. I'm guessing there are issues that effect the day-to-day vicissitudes of playing and the states of mind of players, that Terry is trying to be thoughtful about.

Duda was doing next to nothing for two months last year until finding new focus after the arrival of Johnson and Uribe. I'm guessing Terry is trying to mix and motivate. I think it's plain that Duda is the better player. But history shows that the better player isn't always the better choice, for any number of reasons, but clear and strange. Perhaps he's trying to protect a vulnerable psyche from a tough draw.

But I'll take that 4-4. Where do I sign up for that?

[Zvon]

Wright scratched?


Ugh

Mike Puma ?@NYPost_Mets 9m9 minutes ago
Wright scratched from lineup. More coming.

What more could there freakin be?

[Edgy MD]

That may lead to Duda's reinstatement, with Campy going back across the diamond ... or Reynolds' debut (!) at second with Walker bumped over to third.

Part of me thinks this was to be a bone for Campbell. "We have every intent of making Reynolds a part of this team, so if you're going to hit, here's your chance to hit now. If you're not hitting by the time Wilmer comes back, we're going to have a lot easier decision to make."

[Zvon]

In 95 career plate appearances vs current Mets pitchers, Bryce Harper is hitting .200/.274/.365 with 3 home runs, 7 walks, and 33 strikeouts.


So no Wright and no Duda......

[Zvon]

Cespedes leads the MLB with 9 HR's while runners are on base this season. #MetsFacts

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

Scary prospect I've actually been worried about for a week: If Cabrera goes down... hoo boy.

[TransMonk]

Worries here.

[Zvon]

I think the team has built in safeguards for Wright's down time, and as a result can also find a plug for Duda. What I'm am trying to say is the team can withstand stuff like this in the long run, but this is such an important series. To have to shuffle around like this for a crucial series...

Hey, sometimes this shakes the tree and teams wake the fuck up and go on a tear.

[Benjamin Grimm]

The safeguard for Wright's downtime was Flores, who's on the disabled list at the present time.

They start this series banged up and on a cold streak. Not ideal, but it's only May.

[Zvon]

Updated Mets lineup:
Granderson, RF
Cabrera, SS
Conforto, LF
Cespedes, CF
Walker, 2B
Campbell, 1B
Plawecki, C
Syndergaard, RHP
Reynolds, 3B

Sheesh. Thats a good confidence builder,lol. Hey Reynolds, you're batting 9th.

May as well put Thor after Walker.

[Zvon]

Benjamin Grimm wrote: The safeguard for Wright's downtime was Flores, who's on the disabled list at the present time. They start this series banged up and on a cold streak. Not ideal, but it's only May.

I've been paying attention but I didn't know Flores was down? What's up w/him?