Washington Nationals: 5 to watch in 4-game visit to Citi Field

The Washington Nationals are in Citi Field this weekend to take on a Mets team playing well as of late. Here are our five to watch in the series

It was a rough series for the Washington Nationals (39-27) as they wrapped up their seven game homestand with a series loss to the Atlanta Braves. Over the three games, they gave up a total of 28 runs, including 13 in yesterday’s loss.

Monday’s game might’ve been the low point of the weekend as the Nats bullpen blew a 9-5 lead. With Koda Glover on the disabled list, the closer problem still remains unsolved and most of the relievers are having a hard time throwing strikes. With that being said, the team still has a 8.5 game lead over their next opponent in the division.

Coming into tonight’s matchup at Citi Field, the New York Mets (30-34) have won four of their last six and just took two out of three against the Chicago Cubs. They’ve gotten some of their injured players as Yoenis Cespedes is back in the outfield and both Steven Matz and Seth Lugo are back in the starting rotation.

Matz and Lugo should provide a big help to a rotation that has struggled for most of the season. Their starters have a combined ERA of 4.87, which is the 11th highest in the National League. Plus, they are tied for the second most walks in the NL with the Rockies (140).

While the rotation has had its share of problems, the relievers have given up 35 home runs, which is tied for the most in the league. Addison Reed has been better as the closer lately as he has struck out two batters in four of his last seven outings. Left-hander Jerry Blevins has also been key against the Nats this year as teams are hitting .091 against him.

On offense, right fielder Jay Bruce has been on a power surge this month. Over his last 11 games, he’s hitting .319 with five home runs and ten RBI’s. Bruce is part of an offense that leads the National League in home runs this month and is three behind the New York Yankees for the Major League lead.

Before we look at the players to watch, here are the four scheduled pitching matchups:

Today: Gio Gonzalez (5-1, 2.91 ERA) vs. Robert Gsellman (5-3, 4.95) – 7:10 p.m ET, broadcast on MASN/MLB Network

Tomorrow: Max Scherzer (7-4, 2.36) vs. Steven Matz (1-0, 1.29) – 7:10 p.m – MASN/ESPN

Saturday: Stephen Strasburg (7-2, 3.27) vs. Seth Lugo (1-0, 1.29) – 4.10 p.m – MASN/WUSA9

Sunday: Joe Ross (3-2, 6.39) vs. Jacob deGrom (5-3, 4.33) – 1:10 p.m – MASN/WUSA9

So without further ado, let’s look at the players to watch, starting with a first baseman that is under National League MVP consideration.

Ryan Zimmerman

Zimmerman made his emphatic return to the lineup on Tuesday night against the Atlanta Braves with a pair of home runs against R.A. Dickey, one of which put the Nats back in front 6-5. Over the last month, his 16 RBI’s are tied with Anthony Rendon for the most on the team.

When you take a look at this series, the late innings will be something to watch. Normally, the Mets will go to Jerry Blevins against Bryce Harper and Daniel Murphy. But, since Zimmerman is in between them usually, Terry Collins has to stick with a left-hander against the right-handed Zimmerman.

Due to that fact, the Washington Nationals first baseman has made them pay this season. In the six games he’s played against the Mets, he is 11-for-21 (.524) with four home runs and 11 RBI’s. Three of those home runs have come against Mets relievers and two of them are against closer Addison Reed.

If Zimmerman can keep this pace up, it would be the third season in his career in which he had 20+ hits in a season against the Mets. According to Baseball Reference, he had 24 hits and four home runs against New York in 2012 and 22 hits with four home runs in 2013.

Right now, you could make a great case for Zimmerman to be the MVP of the National League because of how he impacts this lineup. It’s tough to pitch around the middle of the lineup, but you wonder if the Mets will decide to pitch around Zimmerman or Murphy this weekend. Even when he misses a couple days because of a back injury, he is still locked in and ready to go.

Wilmer Flores

When you think about this Mets offense, it will take you a while before you get to Wilmer Flores. However, over the last 30 days, he has been one of the best players on the team. In 24 games, he’s hitting .357, has 30 hits, and two home runs.

With Asdrubal Cabrera on the disabled list and Jose Reyes having to play more shortstop, third base opens up for Flores to be playing on an everyday basis. Normally, you would only see him face left-handed pitchers, but he has actually improved against righties (.295, three home runs, 14 RBI’s).

In May, Flores was hitting the ball well as he went 25-for-66 (.379) with one home run and 11 RBI’s. Last week, in game 2 of the doubleheader against Atlanta, he went 4-for-5. He has the ability to play in three different positions in the infield and Terry Collins can use him anywhere in the lineup.

The 25-year-old left-handed hitter has had good success against the Washington Nationals in his career as he has driven in 13 runs in the last three seasons. Everyone remembers his walk-off home run against Felipe Rivero two years ago. He does have success against Joe Ross in his career (3-for-9, three RBI’s).

So while you think about Jay Bruce, Yoenis Cespdedes, and Michael Conforto, don’t sleep on Flores and his ability to contribute at the bottom of the lineup. If the Nats do sleep on him, he can pick up the big hit late in the game that leads to a win in this series.

Gio Gonzalez

Gonzalez had one of his best starts of the season last Saturday afternoon against the Texas Rangers. He went six innings, gave up one run on three hits, struck out nine (season high) and walked one on 105 pitches. But, he got a no-decision.

Now, the bullpen has blown games for all of the starters at some point, but you could make the case that the Nats lone left-handed starter could have eight or nine wins if the ‘pen had held the lead.

It’s only been two starts this month, but Gonzalez has only walked three batters in 12 innings. Despite the high walk total this year (38), he has given up three runs or fewer in eight of his last ten starts.

The key to limiting the runs being scored against him is how Gonzalez has fared in runners in scoring position situations. This year, teams are hitting .111 against him in those situations and they have yet to hit a home run.

Back in April, Gonzalez faced the Mets at Citi Field and gave up one run on two hits over 6.1 innings in a win. In 14 starts in that ballpark, he is 9-1 with a 1.62 ERA and is 4-0 in his last six starts. Yoenis Cespedes is 6-for-10 against Gonzalez with a pair of solo home runs against him in his career.

Tonight, Gonzalez will go up against Robert Gsellman, who has pitched well enough to make the Mets go to a six man rotation for the time being. In his last four starts, he has won three of them and given up a total of six runs. But, he has walked two batters in each of his last three starts. Zimmerman is 3-for-5 against him while Anthony Rendon has the lone RB

Michael Conforto

Conforto missed all of the Cubs because of a bad back, so keep a eye on his health status heading into the series. He’s been key to the Mets offense because he gives them power out of the leadoff spot. Plus, even with Cespedes back in the lineup, he is going to get a chance to play.

During the month of May, the 24-year-old hit .307 with seven home runs and drove in 21 runs (led the team in both categories). When he’s hitting leadoff, he is hitting .348 with seven solo home runs. His seven homers are second in the National League behind Scott Schebler of the Cincinnati Reds (eight).

Being in New York, I get the chance to watch Conforto everyday. His offense stands out as always, but his defense has improved as well. He gets to more balls in left field and he made some good defensive plays when the Mets were at Nats Park last April.

This year, Conforto has been a tough hitter for Washington Nationals pitchers to get out. In six games, he is 10-for-24 at the plate (.417) with four home runs and seven RBI’s. Three of those home runs have come against starting pitching, including one hit off of Max Scherzer and Stephen Strasburg.

While Conforto is not your prototypical leadoff hitter, his home run power can easily change the momentum of a game. It’s a Mets offense that relies on the home run and Conforto fits right in. It’s safe to say that his sophomore slump from last season hasn’t carried over into this season.

Next: Problems deeper than closer

Who are your players that you are watching in this four game series? Let us know in the comments section below.