Mets-Nats Series Preview

Yesterday’s ugly, ugly loss was just a snapshot of an ongoing trend with the Mets. Their next 14 games are against teams that are under or right at .500 (Washington, Pittsburgh, Atlanta and Houston). You’d figure they’d have a field day with this group of losers, but not so fast. They’re 2-7 against Atlanta, 0-3 against Houston, only 5-4 against Washington and 1-2 against Pittsburgh. That’s a combined 8-16 against the dregs of the league. Overall, they’re 30-32 against sub-.500 teams. I think we’ve spotted a problem here. They have no issues getting up for the good teams (they’re 16-9 vs. the Phillies and Marlins), but the bad ones are another story. If they can turn that around and plow through the next two weeks, it just makes their life a whole lot easier. But after yesterday’s performance by the bullpen, beating anybody may be too much to ask at this point. The Mets have now lost six games when they’ve been winning by four runs or more. Can’t we just put all their relievers on an iceberg and let them drift out to sea?

The Nationals started August with a 6-1 record. Unfortunately, they bookended that with nine straight loses in July and a four-game sweep by Milwaukee. They sit comfortably in last place, with a 44-75 record. At the trade deadline, they released Paul Lo Duca, Johnny Estrada and Felipe Lopez. It’s like that old movie Logan’s Run down in DC, where once you turn 30, you’re eliminated. Watch your back, Ronnie Belliard. Does anybody miss the antics and high jinks of Lastings Milledge? He’s hitting a mediocre .257, with 12 homers, 43 runs batted in and a .319 OBP. I think I’d rather have Ryan Church’s concussions than him. And the Nats got rid of their Wookie. The eight-foot-tall Jon Rauch is now pitching for Arizona.

Here are the pitching matchups:

Tuesday: Johan Santana (9-7, 2.85) vs. Odalis Perez (5-8, 4.10)

Wednesday: John Maine (9-7, 4.13) vs. Jason Bergmann (2-8, 4.13)

Thursday: Oliver Perez (8-7, 3.90) vs. Collin Balester (2-4, 4.66)

Nationals Leaders:

Average: Don Mincher – .291; Home Runs: Frank Howard – 26; RBIs: Howard – 83; Runs: Del Unser – 63; Stolen Bases: Dave Nelson – 17

Wins: Dick Bosman – 12; ERA: Bill Gogolewski – 2.75; Saves: Paul Lindblad – 8

(Ok, those are the 1971 Washington Senators leaders. Do we really care about the Nationals leaders? They’re 31 games under .500.)

Mets Leaders:

Average: Jose Reyes – .303; Home Runs: Carlos Delgado – 25; RBIs: David Wright – 93; Runs: Reyes – 83; Stolen Bases: Reyes – 39

Wins: Mike Pelfrey – 10; ERA: Santana – 2.85; Saves: Billy Wagner – 27 (Please come back, Billy. We didn’t mean all the things we said.)