The Mets will look to win the first game of their three-game series with the Nationals at 7:05 PM ET on Monday.
Here is today’s lineup for New York:
Curtis Granderson – RF
Ruben Tejada – SS
Daniel Murphy – 3B
Wilmer Flores – 2B
John Mayberry Jr – LF
Eric Campbell – 1B
Juan Lagares – CF
Anthony Recker – C
Matt Harvey – RHP
Here is today’s pitching matchup:
Matt Harvey (8-6, 3.07 ERA) will start for the Mets.
Key matchups vs Harvey:
Bryce Harper: 0-for-12, BB, 6 K
Ian Desmond: 4-for-14, 2B, HR, RBI, 3 BB, 2 K
Wilson Ramos: 3-for-6, 2B
Gio Gonzalez (6-4, 3.99 ERA) will start for the Nationals.
Key matchups vs Gonzalez:
Lucas Duda: 3-for-17, 2B, RBI, 3 BB, 4 K
Juan Lagares: 8-for-19, 2 2B, 3B, HR, 4 RBI, 3 K
Daniel Murphy: 7-for-20, 3B, RBI, 2 BB, 4 K
Here’s what I am looking for today from the Mets…
It’s statement time.
Without a doubt, this is the most important series of the year–so far–for this Mets team. With injury after injury after injury, with underperformances galore, with pitching performances wasted and with the National League’s worst offense, the Mets are just two games behind the Nationals for first place in the division.
The Mets opened the 2015 season with an impressive series victory over Washington in DC, however the last time they saw these Nationals, they lost three-of-four in their own building, including back-to-back 1-0 losses in the final two games of the series. That was two months ago. Now, on July 20th, the Mets have destiny in their own hands for these next three days. This team has a chance to make a statement here, to show the Nationals that not only are they not going away, but they’re a team to be reckoned with.
A huge #HarveyDay.
This is arguably the biggest and most important start for Matt Harvey in his career to date. Previously, it almost seemed like an exhibition each time he went out there, but for the first time he will be pitching in a game which actually seems to be impactful.
It’s an opportunity for him to show the world what he’s made of in a real must-win situation, which tonight’s game is without question.
Harvey doesn’t have anything to prove necessarily. But it’s his job as the club’s co-axe to pitch as one and carry the team to victory. The matchup is in his favor – he’s owned Washington in his young career. It must continue tonight.
The little things.
The Mets probably aren’t going to score very much tonight. So, it’s vital the club plays a buttoned up defense behind Harvey, turn double plays, run the bases well, get creative, manufacture and force the issue against Gio Gonzalez to try and squeak out a run or two for their pitcher. That may be all they need, if they play their cards right.
While the Nationals are battered and beaten like the Mets, there remains no margin for error in a pennant race, which is precisely what the Meta find themselves in at this point in the season.
Just Mets 