Nationals at Mets
If the New York Mets are going to have a chance to chase down the Washington Nationals in the National League East, they’ll need to make up ground in head-to-head competition. The Mets get a chance to do so when they host the Nationals for a four-game series beginning Thursday.
The timing is right for the Mets, who have won five of their last six games and catch Washington in its roughest patch of the season thus far. The Nationals have lost five of their last six contests after a 13-2 drubbing in the rubber match of a three-game series against visiting Atlanta on Wednesday. Washington hopes for a quick rebound behind left-hander Gio Gonzalez, who is 9-1 with a 1.62 ERA in 14 starts at Citi Field. Gonzalez has a tough task facing a Mets lineup that has belted 26 home runs in 13 games this month, including eight games with at least two blasts.
TV: 7:10 p.m. ET, MLB Network, MASN (Washington), SNY (New York)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Nationals LH Gio Gonzalez (5-1, 2.91 ERA) vs. Mets RH Robert Gsellman (5-3, 4.95)
Gonzalez is well on his way to his eighth straight season with double-digit wins and has posted three straight quality starts. The 31-year-old didn’t get a decision last time out despite holding Texas to one run and three hits over six innings with a season-high nine strikeouts. Gonzalez has enjoyed pitching against the Mets, going 12-5 with a 2.96 ERA in 21 meetings.
Gsellman has won three straight starts and has posted a 2.16 ERA in four outings since rejoining the rotation on May 24. The 23-year-old threw 6 2/3 scoreless innings to beat Atlanta last time out, allowing only three hits and two walks. Gsellman was terrific in two starts against the Nationals last season, giving up one run and 11 hits over 11 2/3 innings in a win and a no-decision.
WALK-OFFS
1. Nationals RF Bryce Harper is 9-for-29 with a home run during a seven-game hitting streak but has lowered his season average one point to .315 over that stretch.
2. Mets OF Juan Lagares is 15-for-38 with five extra-base hits against Gonzalez, but the rest of New York’s active roster is a combined 34-for-170 against the left-hander.
3. Washington 2B Daniel Murphy is batting .384 with seven doubles and eight home runs in 25 games against his former team.