Jon Niese (2-1, 2.74 ERA) will start for the Mets. Niese is coming off a disappointing start against the Yankees last weekend in the Bronx. He allowed six runs – four earned – on eight hits in only give innings. That snapped a streak of not allowing more than two earned runs over his previous seven starts. Niese has struggled against left-handed pitching in the early part of the season – they’re 10-for-32 so far against him in 2015. He is making his first start of the year against the Nationals tonight – he is 3-3 with a 3.41 ERA in ten career starts against them.
Key matchups vs. Niese:
Dan Uggla: 10-for-33, 3 2B, 6 BB, 10 K
Danny Espinosa: 7-for-18, HR 3 RBI, 5 K
Ian Desmond: 5-for-24, 2 2B, BB, 5 K
Gio Gonzalez (1-2, 5.01 ERA) will start for the Nationals. Its been a struggle in the early part of the season for the typically electric southpaw. He’s allowed ten earned runs and 16 hits in 17 innings over his last three starts, and has issued 11 walks in only 23 1/3 innings so far in 2015. He allowed six runs in five innings and took a loss in his last start against Miami. In 13 career starts against the Mets, Gonzalez is 7-4 with a 3.13 ERA.
Key matchups against Gonzalez:
John Mayberry Jr.: 4-for-19, 2 HR
Michael Cuddyer: 6-for-14, 1 HR, 3 RBI
Daniel Murphy: 6-for-17, 3B
Just Mets 