Erick Fedde; Photo by Marlene Koenig for TalkNats
When COVID postponed Opening Day for the Washington Nationals, it scrapped the entire first series of the season against the NY Mets. Twenty-two days later, the Nats and Mets are set to face each other for the first time since Spring Training. This three game series at CitiField has implications on first place in the NL East. Sure it’s early in the season, but this is a big series at this point in the season.
The odds heavily favor the Mets who have their ace of aces going tonight in Jacob deGrom who will face Erick Fedde. Before the season, Fedde was sixth on the Nationals depth chart, and he took Jon Lester’s spot in the starting rotation after Lester went on the COVID IL. Fedde has his work cut out for him. All he has to do is keep his team in the game.
If you look at the boxscore for September 26, 2020, you will see that the Nats knocked deGrom out after the 5th inning and scored 3-runs off him that included two home runs by Andrew Stevenson. Yes, one was an inside-the-park home run, and the Nats won the game 4-3. As they say, “on any given day”, and this is why we play the games.
Tonight’s game of Fedde v. deGrom looks like a gambler’s dream. deGrom hasn’t even given up 1/2 a run a game, but I highlighted the fact that Fedde and deGrom have identical 1-1 records. There’s a reason we play the games. The #Nats have a chance. pic.twitter.com/DTYCHJPOLG
— Talk Nats ⚾ (@TalkNats) April 23, 2021
The NY Mets had an extra innings game last night in Chicago. Their plane touched down at JFK at 3:44AM EDT. Maybe this will have no effect on them, and who knows. The Mets just got swept in Chicago by the Cubs, and their brand of baseball is worse than the Nats who have won two straight. They say you’re only as good as your next day’s starting pitcher which is now today. We will see. The NL East is jammed up like the Major Deegan Expressway during rush hour.
The #Nats are now just 1 game from 1st Place in the NL East. pic.twitter.com/1JTwHVhqgu
— Talk Nats ⚾ (@TalkNats) April 23, 2021
Washington Nationals vs. New York Mets
Stadium: CitiField, Queens, New York
1st Pitch: 7:10 pm EDT
TV: MASN, SNY, MLB.TV
Nats Radio: 106.7 FM The Fan; SiriusXM® ( Streaming Internet 869)
Line-ups subject to change without notice:
1. Andrew Stevenson RF
2. Josh Harrison 2B
3. Trea Turner SS
4. Josh Bell 1B
5. Kyle Schwarber LF
6. Starlin Castro 3B
7. Yan Gomes C
8. Victor Robles CF
9. Erick Fedde RHP
