Washington Nationals: Meet Matt Harvey and the Mets
By Ron Juckett
MATCHUP TIME
Stephen Strasburg and Jacob deGrom faceoff in the opener. In this battle of the second banana’s, expect Strasburg to come out on top. He loves pitching at home and has the honor of pitching the home opener. A loud crowd will behind him early.
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deGrom is not chopped liver either. He struck out seven over 5.2 inning scattering a run and walk versus St. Louis. You know both guys will fire strikes.
Saturday, if the weather allows, Gio Gonzalez and Steven Matz hook up at 1 PM. Matz struggled with injuries this spring and lost to the Cardinals last Sunday. His durability is a constant worry for the Mets. The good news for New York is the off-day Friday. Their bullpen figures to be fresh. Sunday is another story.
After a few rocky outings in Florida, Gonzalez dazzled Easter Sunday in Cincinnati. He scattered a run on five hits and a walk over six innings while fanning seven. He kept his emotions in check and started the year on a positive note. With Matt Wieters on the disabled list, you wonder who will catch Gonzalez.
Miguel Montero did last week with success.
Tanner Roark ditched the abbreviated wind-up he experimented with in Florida and pitched well Monday in Atlanta. He is projected to face Harvey Sunday night. Roark held the Braves to four hits over seven innings.
deGrom is the toughest starter Washington faces, but Harvey is improving. No breaks for New York as the Nats starters pitched well their first time out.