Just Mets

The Mets are looking for a series win against the Nationals at Nationals Park in Washington tonight at 8 PM.

Here is tonight’s starting lineup:

1) Curtis Granderson – RF
2) David Wright – 3B
3) Lucas Duda – 1B
4) Michael Cuddyer – LF
5) Daniel Murphy – 2B
6) Juan Lagares – CF
7) Travis d’Arnaud – C
8) Jacob deGrom – RHP
9) Wilmer Flores – SS

Here is tonight’s pitching matchup:

Jacob deGrom will start for the Mets. DeGrom is looking to build on his fabulous rookie campaign last year during which he earned Rookie of the Year honors while quickly emerging as a front-line starter in the Mets rotation. He was the fi fth Mets player to receive the honor joining Dwight Gooden (1984), Darryl Strawberry (1983), Jon Matlack (1972) and Tom Seaver (1967). .DeGrom had a 2.62 ERA after his first 20 starts, joining Tom Seaver (2.92 ERA) and Dwight Gooden (2.80 ERA) as the only Mets pitchers to have an ERA under 3.00 after 20 starts in their debut season. DeGrom’s excellence continued in Spring Training going 4-0 with a 2.08 ERA in six starts last month. DeGrom has made only one career start against Washington, allowing three runs and seven hits in six innings last August 7.

Key matchups vs. deGrom:

Ian Desmond: 2-for-3, 1 HR
Denard Span: 2-for-3

Jordan Zimmermann (14-5, 2.66 ERA in 2014) will start for the Nationals. Zimmermann is coming off another stellar campaign, winning 12 games or more for the third consecutive season and league-low 1.3 walks-per-nine-innings in 199 2/3 innings. He also posted a career-low 1.072 WHIP thanks to allowing only 185 hits and 29 walks. Zimmermann has strong career marks against the Mets, going 7-5 with a 2.98 ERA in 117 2/3 innings over 20 starts against them.

Key matchups vs. Zimmermann:

Daniel Murphy: 16-for-50, 5 2B, 3 HR 8 RBI
David Wright: 12-for-42, 2 HR, 4 RBI
Travis d’Arnaud: 3-for-8, 2B
Lucas Duda: 6-for-29, 2 2B, 6 K

Here are three things I am looking for tonight…

A low-scoring affair.

I don’t expect much offense from either club tonight, considering who the starting pitchers are. Like Monday, the game could come down to who does the little things better, and quite possibly the better bullpen as well.

How will Washington play the late-game match-ups?

1-6 in the Mets order is well-balanced and also alternating lefty/righty, meaning it could be difficult for Nationals’ manager Matt Williams to maneuver late in game. That is the obvious design, considering so many games now are won and lost in the bullpen, and Terry Collins (or whoever wrote the lineup) clearly has that in mind.

Juan Lagares needs to chase less pitches out of the zone.

Before today’s game, Terry Collins commented to Kevin Kernan of the New York Post he’s unsure if Lagares will ever be a true leadoff hitter. Despite spending a lot of time at the top of the lineup in camp, Collins seems hesitant to install Lagares in the top of the order, presumably for that reason. Lagares didn’t get off to a good start in that department on Monday, and his 35.7 percent swing rate at pitches outside the strike zone last year just won’t play at the top of any batting order.

Hopefully he continues to mature at the plate, and those numbers improve to a point he can convince team brass he is worthy of the top of the order.