Game of the Week: July 6: NYM @ WAS

[Commissioner Erick]

New York Mets (35-46) @ Washington Nationals (47-35)


NYM: Zach Wheeler (1-4, 3.22)
WAS: Cole Hamels (6-4, 3.91)


The Washington Nationals and New York Mets thought they'd be fighting for the NL East crown. Instead, one team has matched up to its expectations and the other may be the most disappointing team in baseball.

The Washington Nationals continue their quest for a division crown when they take on the floundering New York Mets in the Game of the Week.

Last season the New York Mets had the third highest ERA in the National League as injuries and ineffectiveness rendered a dominant staff impotent. This year that has turned itself around. The stalwarts of the rotation have stayed healthy and rebounded from last season, leading to a strong front of the rotation. Improved depth has allowed the team to stash ineffective youngsters in the bullpen or the minors. Flexibility to trade brought on Jeff Samardzija, who is having a strong season.

The Mets obviously still feel the loss of Noah Syndergaard, and he still hopes to return by the end of the season. Even without him, the Mets have the third best starters ERA in the NL showing that they've resolved their pitching woes.

Unfortunately, as the staff has recovered, the offense has fallen apart. The Mets are tied for 12th in offense, a far cry from last year where they finished fifth.

The biggest change has to be Yoenis Cespedes' down season. Suffering through a bad back, his power has taken a step back this year. He only has nine home runs through 210 plate appearances, well behind the 43 he had last year and the 40 he popped in 2018. Cespedes reverting to a less prolific slugger has hampered the Mets ability to drive in runs.

Justin Williams has also disappointed as he his batted ball profile has gone the other way. He hit a lot more fly balls last year resulting in 39 home runs against 20 doubles. This year he hasn't elevated the ball quite as much. His average and OBP are virtually the same, but he has just 11 home runs against 19 doubles. Williams is still effective, but that's a lot of juice the Mets have had removed from the heart of their order.

The Mets will need to get more power to springboard their offense and turn their season around.

They'll see plenty of power when they see Bryce Harper tonight. Harper is having a historic season, the type of year that turns into legend. In half a season, Harper has 35 home runs, 89 RBI's, and eight steals, good full season numbers for virtually any player. He's doing this with a .380 average, a .501 OBP, and an .806 slugging percentage, each of which would be the best season for that statistic in league history. He has a 1.413 OPS—against left-handers this year. He's been an absolute monster this season and is almost unstoppable.

However, the last time he faced the Mets, he went only 2-14 in a four-game set. The Nationals took three of four anyway on the backs of a seven-run ninth inning comeback victory, a Harper late go-ahead home run, and a virtuoso performance from Peter Solomon.

If the Nationals can get a standout pitching performance, some clutch hitting from Harper, and an explosive offensive display from the rest of the Nationals, they should continue to bury the Mets farther in the NL East.


Questions for the GMs:


For Steve Cox, your offense has fallen apart this year. Is any of this a surprise or did you see a step back?

Bryce Harper is incredible. Will you have a strategy against him today?

You signed Juan Castaneda in the first round this year. What do you like about him?

For Jake Pennel, Jose Marmolejos-Diaz is out for a month. How will you fill his spot on the roster?

Edwin Encarancion is due back soon. Will he go on a rehab assignment at all or will you insert him right on the roster?

You haven't signed any of your early draft picks. What's the status on your drafted players?

[Commissioner Erick]

Nationals 2 - Mets 1 (11)


WP: W. Smith (2-4)
LP: B. Boshers (1-1)


The New York Mets didn't allow a hit to Bryce Harper. Their bullpen pitched 8.2 innings and allowed just two runs. It should have been a recipe for victory.

But this is 2020.

Victor Robles singled and had a huge stolen base in the 11th inning as the Washington Nationals continued to curse the New York Mets, winning 2-1 in extra innings.

Jeff Samardzija was only able to go 2 innings for the Mets, but their bullpen was up to the task. Seven different arms combined to go 8.2 innings, highlighted by Josh Smoker striking out two in a nine-pitch seventh inning.

The problem was the same one the Mets have had all year. They couldn't score any runs.

Joe Ross got the start for Washington and allowed just one run in 7.1 strong innings. He didn't walk a batter, struck out six, and only allowed two hits, both in the third inning. David Wright hit a ground single, Travis D'Arnaud slapped a ground single the other way to move Wright to third, and Matt W. Reynolds hit into a double play to bring Wright home. That was the only run Ross allowed in a dominant performance.

From the double play on, Ross retired 16 in a row. Justin Williams led off the eighth with a deep fly ball to left-center field convincing the Nationals manager bot to go to the bullpen. Jeremy Jeffress came on and retired both batters in the eighth to keep the Mets bottled up.

Their best chance of offense came in the ninth. Reynolds singled with one out against Jorge Crespo before Ahmed Rosario singled against Will Smith. Knowing Smith had a bad hamstring, the Mets put on a squeeze play, but JaCoby Jones missed the squeeze and Reynolds was tagged out, squashing the last good chance of a run for New York.

The Nationals offense couldn't get anything going until the ninth inning. With two outs Raul Mondesi singled and stole second base. The steal allowed the Mets to walk Bryce Harper intentionally, but J.A. Happ got Anthony Rendon on a ground ball to end the inning.

Addison Reed worked the tenth and allowed two base runners on catcher's interference and an error. He struck out Mike Zunino for the second out, but Michael Brantley and Trea Turner executed a double steal. Salvador Perez flew out to end the inning.

Finally, in the 11th the Nationals broke through. Robles singled and was sacrificed over to second. Harper again was intentionally walked, but Robles and Harper executed another double steal to put two in scoring position with one out. Rendon's fly ball was deep enough to plate Robles with the winning run.


Questions for the GMs:


For Steve Cox, you had a great idea testing Will Smith's sore hamstring, but Jones couldn't get the bunt down. How frustrated are you when a role player like Jones failed to execute?

Yoenis Cespedes went 0-4. Where did this decline come from? Did you expect It at all?

Are you happy that you really stymied Bryce Harper?

For Jake Pennel, your small ball approach twice took the bat out of Bryce Harper's hands. Is that something you were happy with?

Are you concerned you couldn't get any offense going when Harper had a quiet game?

Ian Sagdal went 0-2 in his major league debut. What did he show you out there?