Staggering Nats take on a red-hot division foe
The Washington Nationals are struggling, and they are six games out of first place in the National League East. The New York Mets are winning, and they?re six games up on the Nationals. A mid-April series has rarely felt so pivotal to these Nationals, who have not had to scratch and claw so soon since 2015. No series played in the spring will define a season, nor even make or break it. Even if the Nationals were to take two of three from the Mets this week, they would still find themselves under .500. But a series win would certainly help, particularly after a gut-wrenching 6-5 loss to the Colorado Rockies ended a 3-7 homestand Sunday afternoon. They doomed themselves repeatedly during that stretch, fighting through defensive miscues and self-sabotage on the bases as they lost several close games.
In fairness to the Nationals, the are not the only projected division winner to not look the part yet. The Dodgers are in last place in the National League West. The Cubs are 7-7, battling weather, injuries and inconsistency. Nothing is decided, and the Mets will not play this well forever. But slowing them down would certainly stabilize the situation before the Nationals head to California for a two-city swing.
Meet the Mets
The Mets struggled this weekend, which for that team, at this time, means they actually lost a game. But they will head into Monday?s series opener at Citi Field on a high note after noted Nationals nemesis Wilmer Flores hit a walk-off homer against old friend Matt Albers on Sunday afternoon. They are 12-2, in the midst of a charmed start that qualifies as the best in franchise history. Their starting rotation is healthy, which has always been the differentiating factor for this team. Their veteran lineup boasts experience, particularly against this Nationals staff, and has also stayed healthy. Veterans like Asdrubal Cabrera and Todd Frazier are off to hot starts.
The Nationals will catch a break in that they will miss stifling Noah Syndergaard. They will also get a chance to see former backup catcher Jose Lobaton, who is in the big leagues because of injuries to both of the Mets? Opening Day catchers. Their .731 team OPS is only two points higher than the Nationals?, and they have scored two fewer runs. They have not exactly been dominant offensively, either. But as the Mets swept the Nationals in Washington last week, they looked more in control, tighter defensively and smarter offensively. Their record reflects the early difference.
The Washington Nationals are struggling, and they are six games out of first place in the National League East. The New York Mets are winning, and they?re six games up on the Nationals. A mid-April series has rarely felt so pivotal to these Nationals, who have not had to scratch and claw so soon since 2015. No series played in the spring will define a season, nor even make or break it. Even if the Nationals were to take two of three from the Mets this week, they would still find themselves under .500. But a series win would certainly help, particularly after a gut-wrenching 6-5 loss to the Colorado Rockies ended a 3-7 homestand Sunday afternoon. They doomed themselves repeatedly during that stretch, fighting through defensive miscues and self-sabotage on the bases as they lost several close games.
In fairness to the Nationals, the are not the only projected division winner to not look the part yet. The Dodgers are in last place in the National League West. The Cubs are 7-7, battling weather, injuries and inconsistency. Nothing is decided, and the Mets will not play this well forever. But slowing them down would certainly stabilize the situation before the Nationals head to California for a two-city swing.
Meet the Mets
The Mets struggled this weekend, which for that team, at this time, means they actually lost a game. But they will head into Monday?s series opener at Citi Field on a high note after noted Nationals nemesis Wilmer Flores hit a walk-off homer against old friend Matt Albers on Sunday afternoon. They are 12-2, in the midst of a charmed start that qualifies as the best in franchise history. Their starting rotation is healthy, which has always been the differentiating factor for this team. Their veteran lineup boasts experience, particularly against this Nationals staff, and has also stayed healthy. Veterans like Asdrubal Cabrera and Todd Frazier are off to hot starts.
The Nationals will catch a break in that they will miss stifling Noah Syndergaard. They will also get a chance to see former backup catcher Jose Lobaton, who is in the big leagues because of injuries to both of the Mets? Opening Day catchers. Their .731 team OPS is only two points higher than the Nationals?, and they have scored two fewer runs. They have not exactly been dominant offensively, either. But as the Mets swept the Nationals in Washington last week, they looked more in control, tighter defensively and smarter offensively. Their record reflects the early difference.