The Nationals meet the Mets for their first head-to-head games of the season, and tonight is a heavyweight bout between Max Scherzer and Noah Syndergaard. This game will also be a second chance for Dusty Baker to out-manage the person in the opposite dugout as Joe Maddon pulled and pushed all the right buttons in Chicago 2 weekends ago. As we saw last year, Terry Collins played each Nats game like it was a playoff game. The atmosphere will be electric. Here’s hoping Dusty Baker will be victorious!
The last time Max Scherzer pitched in CitiField, he pitched his 2nd career no-hitter:
The last time, Syndergaard pitched against the Giants, which was 2 weeks ago, he experienced pain in his throwing arm. He had an MRI and it showed no structural damage.
#Mets assistant GM Ricco said "something didn't feel right" for Syndergaard after SF start. An MRI was fine, and he hasn't had issues since.
— Anthony DiComo (@AnthonyDiComo) May 12, 2016
Syndergaard’s velocity has fluctuated, and there is no telling if he is still feeling pain. Syndergaard gave up 2 HRs in his last start versus the Dodgers and 2 earned in the start before that, and 4 earned in 5 2/3rds against the Giants.
Syndergaard will get his strikeouts, but he will also make mistake pitches and if you can barrel them up, he is supplying the power in an E=MC² type of way.
Here are the Nats stats against Syndergaard:
Here are Max Scherzer’s stats against the Mets:
Lineups (subject to change without notice):
- Ben Revere CF
- Jayson Werth LF
- Bryce Harper RF
- Daniel Murphy 2B
- Ryan Zimmerman 1B
- Anthony Rendon 3B
- Wilson Ramos C
- Danny Espinosa SS
- Max Scherzer RHP
