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NY METS ( HARVEY ) |
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| 909 | WASHINGTON | +115 | Ov 6.5,-110 | +105 | Ov 6.5,+100 | | 910 | NY METS | -125 | Un 6.5,-110 | -115 | Un 6.5,-120 |
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| All Games | 81-78 | -20.4 | 83-68 | 4.4 | 0.254 | 0.322 | 0.406 | 0.727 | 4.0 | 0.252 | 0.299 | 0.387 | 0.686 | | Road Games | 35-43 | -14.8 | 39-36 | 4.3 | 0.250 | 0.315 | 0.396 | 0.711 | 4.2 | 0.263 | 0.310 | 0.406 | 0.716 | | vs Right-handed Starters | 58-61 | -17.8 | 63-52 | 4.3 | 0.252 | 0.321 | 0.400 | 0.720 | 4.1 | 0.254 | 0.303 | 0.387 | 0.689 | | Past 7 Games | 3-4 | -4.4 | 2-5 | 2.6 | 0.237 | 0.285 | 0.371 | 0.656 | 3.7 | 0.224 | 0.280 | 0.353 | 0.633 | | Grass Games | 80-77 | -20.5 | 82-68 | 4.3 | 0.252 | 0.320 | 0.403 | 0.722 | 4.0 | 0.252 | 0.298 | 0.387 | 0.685 | | Night Games | 49-56 | -22.4 | 54-45 | 4.4 | 0.255 | 0.323 | 0.403 | 0.727 | 4.0 | 0.253 | 0.301 | 0.397 | 0.698 | | Division | 42-31 | -2.4 | 37-33 | 4.3 | 0.256 | 0.323 | 0.403 | 0.726 | 3.4 | 0.241 | 0.287 | 0.352 | 0.639 |
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| All Games | 4.4 | 0.254 | 0.322 | 159 | 5338 | 1355 | 263 | 13 | 174 | 0.406 | 660 | 534 | 1301 | 56 | 1101 | 143 | 87 | 122 | 53 | | Road Games | 4.3 | 0.250 | 0.315 | 78 | 2685 | 672 | 123 | 10 | 83 | 0.396 | 315 | 254 | 672 | 31 | 548 | 71 | 38 | 63 | 30 | | Righty Starters | 4.3 | 0.252 | 0.321 | 119 | 4010 | 1011 | 190 | 10 | 127 | 0.400 | 485 | 404 | 978 | 43 | 832 | 110 | 67 | 99 | 47 |
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| All Games | 3.50 | 1.224 | 463.3 | 203 | 180 | 427 | 40 | 140 | 414 | 20-24 | 40 | 22 | 64.5% | | Road Games | 3.76 | 1.230 | 220.4 | 101 | 92 | 203 | 21 | 68 | 188 | 6-15 | 19 | 12 | 61.3% |
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| All Games | 89-70 | +7.8 | 84-69 | 4.3 | 0.247 | 0.308 | 0.404 | 0.712 | 3.8 | 0.246 | 0.295 | 0.380 | 0.675 | | Home Games | 48-30 | +6.6 | 38-38 | 4.0 | 0.237 | 0.303 | 0.395 | 0.698 | 3.7 | 0.240 | 0.288 | 0.374 | 0.662 | | vs Right-handed Starters | 69-55 | +4.6 | 69-49 | 4.4 | 0.247 | 0.307 | 0.403 | 0.710 | 3.9 | 0.249 | 0.296 | 0.383 | 0.679 | | Past 7 Games | 4-3 | -0.6 | 5-2 | 6.3 | 0.273 | 0.329 | 0.480 | 0.809 | 3.7 | 0.279 | 0.311 | 0.400 | 0.711 | | Grass Games | 88-66 | +10.9 | 81-67 | 4.3 | 0.249 | 0.310 | 0.406 | 0.716 | 3.8 | 0.244 | 0.293 | 0.376 | 0.670 | | Night Games | 58-54 | -6.7 | 56-51 | 4.1 | 0.244 | 0.303 | 0.401 | 0.705 | 4.0 | 0.252 | 0.300 | 0.390 | 0.690 | | Division | 46-27 | +9.8 | 43-28 | 4.8 | 0.256 | 0.323 | 0.422 | 0.746 | 3.8 | 0.249 | 0.296 | 0.365 | 0.661 |
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| All Games | 4.3 | 0.247 | 0.308 | 159 | 5441 | 1343 | 292 | 17 | 176 | 0.404 | 652 | 482 | 1253 | 51 | 1085 | 151 | 83 | 133 | 73 | | Home Games | 4.0 | 0.237 | 0.303 | 78 | 2574 | 611 | 141 | 7 | 84 | 0.395 | 302 | 242 | 583 | 25 | 511 | 66 | 32 | 74 | 31 | | Righty Starters | 4.4 | 0.247 | 0.307 | 124 | 4210 | 1040 | 223 | 14 | 135 | 0.403 | 516 | 366 | 949 | 38 | 827 | 125 | 66 | 98 | 53 |
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| All Games | 3.54 | 1.249 | 450 | 192 | 177 | 394 | 40 | 168 | 431 | 25-20 | 49 | 21 | 70% | | Home Games | 3.63 | 1.266 | 233 | 103 | 94 | 204 | 22 | 91 | 219 | 13-10 | 26 | 11 | 70.3% |
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| 9/19/2015 | ZIMMERMANN(R) | MIAMI | HAND(L) | 5-2 | W | -220 | 8 ov | U | 6 | 8 | 0 | 10 | 8 | 0 | | 9/20/2015 | STRASBURG(R) | MIAMI | NICOLINO(L) | 13-3 | W | -270 | 7.5 un | O | 13 | 4 | 1 | 8 | 6 | 0 | | 9/22/2015 | GONZALEZ(L) | BALTIMORE | JIMENEZ(R) | 1-4 | L | -140 | 7.5 un | U | 3 | 9 | 1 | 6 | 6 | 3 | | 9/23/2015 | SCHERZER(R) | BALTIMORE | TILLMAN(R) | 3-4 | L | -175 | 7 un | P | 6 | 5 | 0 | 8 | 8 | 0 | | 9/24/2015 | ROARK(R) | BALTIMORE | WILSON(R) | 4-5 | L | -145 | 8.5 ov | O | 10 | 8 | 0 | 7 | 7 | 0 | | 9/25/2015 | ZIMMERMANN(R) | PHILADELPHIA | EICKHOFF(R) | 2-8 | L | -240 | 7 un | O | 7 | 6 | 0 | 10 | 4 | 1 | | 9/26/2015 | STRASBURG(R) | PHILADELPHIA | NOLA(R) | 2-1 | W | -265 | 7 un | U | 10 | 12 | 0 | 6 | 7 | 1 | | 9/27/2015 | GONZALEZ(L) | PHILADELPHIA | HARANG(R) | 5-12 | L | -215 | 7.5 ev | O | 9 | 4 | 2 | 15 | 9 | 1 | | 9/28/2015 | SCHERZER(R) | CINCINNATI | FINNEGAN(L) | 5-1 | W | -185 | 7 ov | U | 12 | 8 | 0 | 3 | 4 | 1 | | 9/29/2015 | ROARK(R) | @ ATLANTA | WISLER(R) | 1-2 | L | -130 | 8.5 un | U | 7 | 6 | 0 | 5 | 3 | 0 | | 9/30/2015 | ZIMMERMANN(R) | @ ATLANTA | PEREZ(R) | 0-2 | L | -160 | 7.5 un | U | 6 | 7 | 0 | 6 | 6 | 0 | | 10/1/2015 | STRASBURG(R) | @ ATLANTA | WEBER(R) | 3-0 | W | -210 | 7 un | U | 6 | 4 | 1 | 7 | 8 | 1 | | 10/3/2015 | GONZALEZ(L) | @ NY METS | SYNDERGAARD(R) | | | 10/3/2015 | SCHERZER(R) | @ NY METS | HARVEY(R) | | | 10/4/2015 | ROARK(R) | @ NY METS | DEGROM(R) | |
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| 9/19/2015 | SYNDERGAARD(R) | NY YANKEES | PINEDA(R) | 0-5 | L | -115 | 7 un | U | 6 | 7 | 0 | 7 | 4 | 0 | | 9/20/2015 | HARVEY(R) | NY YANKEES | SABATHIA(L) | 2-11 | L | -155 | 7 un | O | 7 | 7 | 4 | 9 | 8 | 0 | | 9/21/2015 | NIESE(L) | ATLANTA | MILLER(R) | 4-0 | W | -165 | 7.5 un | U | 10 | 9 | 1 | 5 | 7 | 1 | | 9/22/2015 | VERRETT(R) | ATLANTA | WISLER(R) | 2-6 | L | -190 | 7.5 un | O | 6 | 7 | 0 | 9 | 4 | 1 | | 9/23/2015 | COLON(R) | ATLANTA | PEREZ(R) | 3-6 | L | -225 | 7.5 ev | O | 10 | 7 | 0 | 9 | 5 | 0 | | 9/24/2015 | MATZ(L) | @ CINCINNATI | SMITH(R) | 6-4 | W | -160 | 9 un | O | 12 | 7 | 0 | 11 | 7 | 0 | | 9/25/2015 | SYNDERGAARD(R) | @ CINCINNATI | DESCLAFANI(R) | 12-5 | W | -130 | 7.5 un | O | 14 | 4 | 0 | 11 | 7 | 1 | | 9/26/2015 | HARVEY(R) | @ CINCINNATI | LAMB(L) | 10-2 | W | -145 | 7.5 un | O | 10 | 5 | 1 | 13 | 11 | 1 | | 9/27/2015 | DEGROM(R) | @ CINCINNATI | SAMPSON(R) | 8-1 | W | -125 | 7.5 un | O | 13 | 9 | 1 | 7 | 7 | 2 | | 9/29/2015 | COLON(R) | @ PHILADELPHIA | BUCHANAN(R) | 3-4 | L | -175 | 9 ev | U | 9 | 12 | 0 | 12 | 6 | 1 | | 9/30/2015 | VERRETT(R) | @ PHILADELPHIA | ASHER(R) | 5-7 | L | -175 | 9 un | O | 6 | 7 | 0 | 8 | 8 | 1 | | 10/1/2015 | GILMARTIN(L) | @ PHILADELPHIA | EICKHOFF(R) | 0-3 | L | -110 | 7 ov | U | 6 | 6 | 0 | 5 | 3 | 0 | | 10/3/2015 | SYNDERGAARD(R) | WASHINGTON | GONZALEZ(L) | | | 10/3/2015 | HARVEY(R) | WASHINGTON | SCHERZER(R) | | | 10/4/2015 | DEGROM(R) | WASHINGTON | ROARK(R) | |
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| |  | WASHINGTON: WASHINGTON (AP) - Bryce Harper's reaction to the news that the Washington Nationals added Max Scherzer to an already-talented starting staff drew quite a lot of attention.
''I just started laughing,'' Harper famously said. ''I was like, `Where's my ring?'''
Yes, that pretty much sums up where the expectations are for the 2015 Nationals - as expressed by them and by others.
On the first day of full-squad workouts at spring training, reigning NL Manager of the Year Matt Williams posted these words of wisdom in the clubhouse: ''The road to the World Series begins today.''
''We're here to get to that ultimate goal,'' Williams said. ''We're not alone. There's 29 other teams that have the same thought. So that being said, I want to make sure that we understand that that's our goal. That is our goal: to be the last one standing at the end of it.''
The main reason many folks think the Nationals are capable of achieving that goal, even if the team has yet to win a playoff series, is the rotation.
Scherzer, the 2013 AL Cy Young Award winner with Detroit, came aboard with a $210 million contract, joining a group that led the majors in ERA last season - right-handers Stephen Strasburg, Jordan Zimmermann and Doug Fister, and lefty Gio Gonzalez.
''There's no break'' for an opposing team, new reliever Casey Janssen observed.
It's such a formidable quintet that a guy who won 15 games, had a sub-3.00 ERA and threw nearly 200 innings a year ago, Tanner Roark, is moving to the bullpen.
In 2014, the Nationals won a league-best 96 games and finished atop the underwhelming NL East by a whopping 17 games, but then bowed out in four games in a Division Series against the eventual champs, the San Francisco Giants. Washington's starting pitching wasn't the problem in the postseason; its bullpen and hitting were what led to a second quick playoff exit in three years.
And yet general manager Mike Rizzo allowed those two areas to lose important pieces, trading away the man he called ''maybe the best eighth-inning setup man in the history of the game,'' Tyler Clippard, and letting first baseman Adam LaRoche (team highs of 26 homers, 92 RBIs) leave via free agency.
The hope, presumably, is that hitters such as Harper, Ryan Zimmerman (who replaces LaRoche at first) and Wilson Ramos, who each missed significant chunks of last season, will deliver the numbers they're capable of producing, while opponents have a really hard time scoring much against all the aces Williams will send to the mound.
''It's hilarious having to go in there and face them. It's absolutely stupid,'' Harper said. ''We have the best staff in baseball. I don't care what anybody says.''
Actually, Bryce, that's exactly what pretty much everybody IS saying.
Here are other things to know about the Nationals, who open the season on April 6 at home against the New York Mets:
HEALTH MATTERS: Half of the everyday lineup - outfielders Jayson Werth and Denard Span (both recovering from offseason surgery), third baseman Anthony Rendon and new second baseman Yunel Escobar - missed extended periods of spring training, as did fourth outfielder Nate McClouth. Rendon, Span, Werth and McClouth might all miss opening day. ''You can be as good as you want on paper, but that doesn't mean anything until the end of the year,'' Scherzer said. ''We've got to stay healthy.''
MIGHTY `PEN?: Given their aspirations, October is what really matters for the Nationals, and Drew Storen blew save chances in the 2012 and 2014 playoffs. Still, the closer's job is his entering the season, and Clippard is no longer around to shut down foes in the eighth - or provide ninth-inning backup if needed. Worth watching: Will Aaron Barrett set aside the yips that hit him in the NLDS?
LAST HURRAH: A couple of homegrown franchise cornerstones, Zimmermann and shortstop Ian Desmond, can become free agents after the season, as can Span and Fister. Rizzo could try to sign one or more to long-term deals. He could trade one or more. Or he could decide to let things play out with this group, then move on next offseason. ''With this group of guys,'' Werth said, ''this might be it.'' | | NY METS: NEW YORK (AP) - The big names for the New York Mets this season: Matt Harvey, David Wright, Tommy John.
Finally confident they're a playoff contender, the Mets absorbed a familiar setback in spring training - two of them, really. Zack Wheeler and Josh Edgin became the latest New York pitchers to have reconstructive elbow surgery, sidelining both until next year.
Wheeler's injury prevents the Mets from lining up three electric young arms at the top of their rotation. And the loss of Edgin, who had a 1.32 ERA last season, leaves the bullpen without a dependable lefty.
But the return of Harvey, an imposing ace back from his own Tommy John operation in 2013, has the team talking about October aspirations.
''We've been sitting around for four years asking everybody to be patient,'' manager Terry Collins said when camp opened. ''Well, it's time.''
Former batting champ Michael Cuddyer was signed to add offense, and his Virginia hometown buddy Wright looks healthy again at the plate. So while hardly anyone expects the Mets to unseat Washington atop the NL East, anything short of a wild-card push would be a disappointment.
That's a new outlook for a big-market club that has spent several years trimming payroll while rebuilding under general manager Sandy Alderson. New York improved by five wins last year and finished 79-83, its sixth consecutive losing season since moving into Citi Field.
''Is the team capable of winning 89-90 games? Yeah, I think the team is capable,'' Alderson said last month. ''It has that capacity. I think it has that potential.''
Harvey highlights a solid group of starters that includes 2014 NL Rookie of the Year Jacob deGrom, who made a successful comeback in the minors from Tommy John surgery - the ligament-replacement procedure named for its pioneer pitching patient in 1974.
Dillon Gee, who was headed for the bullpen, instead slides back into the rotation as Wheeler's substitute. He rejoins Jonathon Niese and 41-year-old Bartolo Colon, a 15-game winner last season.
With young right-hander Rafael Montero also in the mix, plus top prospects Noah Syndergaard and Steven Matz (a former Tommy John patient) getting close, the Mets might indeed have enough pitching depth to offset the injuries.
Especially if Tommy John veterans Jenrry Mejia and Bobby Parnell can lock down games in the late innings.
Mejia had his operation in 2011, shifted to a relief role last season and posted 28 saves. Parnell, the team's previous closer, had surgery last April and could be back this May.
New York is hardly the only team hurt by the recent rash of torn elbow ligaments all over baseball. Look no further than division rivals Washington, Miami and Atlanta.
But for a club that's been rebuilding around a young stable of power arms, rebuilding all those elbows has taken its toll on progress.
''Every guy that throws hard eventually is going to have it,'' Wheeler said.
The regular season begins April 6 in Washington. Here are some other story lines to watch for with the Mets this season:
POWER COMPANY: New York finished 12th in the National League in slugging percentage (.364) last year and 13th in batting average (.238). More is needed from Curtis Granderson, who hit .227 with 20 homers and 66 RBIs in his first season with the Mets after signing a $60 million, four-year contract. Kevin Long, a Granderson favorite during his Yankees days, was hired as hitting coach - and the Mets moved in the Citi Field fences for the second time to help Granderson, Wright and Lucas Duda in right-center. Wright, a seven-time All-Star, is eager to rebound after a left shoulder injury contributed to his 2014 bust. Duda will try to repeat his breakout season of 30 homers and 92 RBIs.
UP THE MIDDLE: Outside of Gold Glove center fielder Juan Lagares, the defense appears shaky. Wilmer Flores, a young hitter with a suspect glove, starts at shortstop - a gaping hole since Jose Reyes left following the 2011 season. All-Star second baseman Daniel Murphy is also limited defensively, so double-play chances could get dicey. Passed balls and wild throws are a concern for catcher Travis d'Arnaud.
UNDER PRESSURE: Increased expectations mean added scrutiny for Collins entering the final guaranteed season of his contract. Word is Alderson was even considering a change last year before deciding to bring Collins back. In truth, this is probably his first chance in five years to manage a Mets team talented enough to contend - but it might be his only one. |
| | ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ PA SPORTSTICKER NL PREVIEW (WASHINGTON-NY METS) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
*Nationals-Mets Preview* ========================
By NICOLINO DIBENEDETTO STATS Writer
Washington (81-78) at New York (89-70), 7:10 p.m. EDT
A season-ending three-game series between the New York Mets and Washington Nationals was supposed to have the NL East title at stake.
Instead, the Mets are vying for home-field advantage in next week's NL division series while the Nationals play out the string in what has been a disappointing season.
The division-winning Mets look to extend their longest winning streak over the Washington franchise in 24 years Saturday in a day-night doubleheader.
New York (89-70) and Washington (81-78) switched spots as the division leader eight times this year. The Mets, however, moved ahead for good following a 12-1 win at Miami on Aug. 3, a day after pulling level by completing a three-game sweep of Washington.
They swept the Nationals again from Sept. 7-9, taking control of the East with a seven-game lead before clinching it last weekend.
The only remaining race left for New York involves home-field advantage in the NLDS, which starts next Friday against Los Angeles.
New York fell 3-0 at Philadelphia on Thursday to get swept in the three-game set, and their chance to bounce back was moved back a day after rain caused Friday's postponement.
"It's easy to say, 'Let's just gear up for the playoffs,'" third baseman David Wright told MLB's official website. "But home-field advantage would be nice, so I think that's something that we really need to bear down these last three games and try to attain. And it would be nice to go into the playoffs with some sort of momentum."
Facing the Nationals, losers of seven of their last 10, should be just what the Mets are looking for. They're aiming for their first seven-game winning streak against Washington since taking nine straight when the franchise was the Montreal Expos in 1991.
Noah Syndergaard (9-7, 3.34 ERA) takes the ball, and he's 1-0 with a 2.08 ERA and 13 strikeouts in 13 innings over two starts against the Nationals.
The rookie right-hander was outstanding last Friday, striking out 11 and allowing two runs in 7 2-3 innings of a 12-5 win at Cincinnati. He helped himself with a pair of hits, including an RBI single.
That was enough for manager Terry Collins to declare Syndergaard will be in the postseason rotation.
"He's going to start the game, whatever game it may be. I'm very impressed," Collins said. "This kid's really gotten better."
Syndergaard will try to be better at Citi Field, where he's 0-1 while surrendering nine runs and three homers in 12 2-3 innings of his last two starts after going 7-1 with a 1.82 ERA through his first nine.
Yoenis Cespedes was included in the lineup Friday, so his fingers aren't an issue after being hit by a pitch in Wednesday's 7-5 loss at Philadelphia.
He's 7 for 18 with two homers, three doubles and seven RBIs in his last four meetings with Washington.
Matt Harvey (13-7, 2.80) will also be in the Mets' postseason rotation, and he takes the ball in the nightcap. He's 1-0 while allowing two runs with 13 strikeouts and one walk in 11 2-3 innings over his last two starts. The right-hander went 6 2-3 while yielding two runs in last Saturday's 10-2 win at Cincinnati that clinched the Mets' first division crown in nine years.
Harvey is 3-2 with a 1.95 ERA in nine career starts against Washington, going 2-1 with a 1.07 ERA in five at home.
The Nationals won 3-0 on Thursday to salvage a victory from a three-game set at Atlanta.
"Everybody in here is disappointed how the season turned out, but at the same time, it would be huge to go into New York and play our best baseball," Thursday's starter Stephen Strasburg said. "Hopefully we can get them into a little slump heading into the playoffs. That's all we can do."
Max Scherzer (13-12, 2.91) gets the nod opposite Harvey to conclude his first season with Washington. The right-hander is 2-1 with a 2.12 ERA and 34 strikeouts in 29 2-3 innings over his last four starts. That came after he was roughed up for five runs and three homers in six innings in an 8-5 loss to the Mets on Sept. 7.
Scherzer yielded four runs - one earned - over 14 2-3 innings while striking out 18 in his first two starts against New York.
He came within five outs of his second no-hitter of the year Monday, allowing one run and two hits with 10 strikeouts in eight innings of a 5-1 win over Cincinnati.
"The obvious thing for me," Reds manager Bryan Price said, "is that he got stronger as the game went on."
The Nationals turn to Gio Gonzalez (11-8, 3.93) in the opener and he's looking for another sterling effort against the Mets. The left-hander is 6-1 with a 1.68 ERA and 9.23 strikeouts per nine innings over 10 starts in Queens.
He's 3-0 with a 1.09 ERA and 31 strikeouts in 24 2-3 innings during his last four overall matchups with New York.
Gonzalez allowed two runs in five-plus innings while not getting a decision in Sunday's 12-5 loss to the Phillies. The effort was overshadowed by a dugout fight between Jonathan Papelbon and Bryce Harper, highlighted by the closer choking the superstar right fielder.
Papelbon has been suspended for the rest of the season.
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| | Last Updated: 4/23/2024 11:49:16 AM EST. |
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