Gio Gonzalez (2-1, 1.93) vs. Bartolo Colon (3-2, 3.53) – 7:10 p.m, MASN/ESPN
Last Friday, Gonzalez was cruising against the Marlins when he gave up only one hit in the first four innings. Then, thanks to some bad defense, Gonzalez needed 39 pitches to finish the fifth and was taken out in the sixth inning with the bases loaded. The Nats’ left-hander went five innings, gave up two runs (all unearned) on six hits, struck out seven, and walked two.
While Gonzalez has been much better with his command this season, he needs to avoid that one inning where he has to throw a lot of pitches. He has not gone past six innings in back-to-back outings after going at least six innings in the first five starts of the season.
Gonzalez is 9-4 with a 2.66 ERA in 17 career starts against the Mets (6-1, 1.54 ERA in 11 starts at Citi Field). David Wright is 6-for-21 (.286) against Gonzalez with one home run and four RBI’s in his career. The question is whether or not Wright will play after he was scratched from tonight’s game because of a back injury:
Mets say David Wright's back is bothering him and that's why Wright is scratched from lineup.
— Anthony McCarron (@AnthonyMcCarron) May 17, 2016
The talk of Bartolo Colon’s season so far has been the home run he hit back on May 7 against the San Diego Padres. Colon is only supposed to be in the rotation until Zack Wheeler comes back from Tommy John surgery, but he has had some good moments this year. He has given up three runs or fewer in six of his seven starts.
However, the 42-year-old right-hander struggled in his last outing against the Dodgers and Clayton Kershaw. He went five innings, gave up five runs (all In the first two innings), gave up seven hits, and struck out three in the loss. Colon has been good at Citi Field this season as he has a 1.89 ERA in three home starts (4.81 ERA in five road games).
In nine games against the Nationals, Colon is 3-5 with a 3.17 ERA (1.29 ERA in two games last season). Bryce Harper is 3-for-13 (.231) with a home run and two RBi’s against him.
Prediction: Even though Colon has done a good job for the Mets this season, I expect Gonzalez to pitch a little better considering his Citi Field track record and he can take advantage of a lineup that relies on the long ball (only two home runs allowed all season). Nats win their first game of the series.
Next: Thursday's Matchup