Mets-Nationals Series Preview

The Mets start their last road trip of the year with a four-game set down in Washington, DC. That’s four more times we get to see the Presidents’ Race. Teddy Roosevelt is about 0-190 now. Come on, in real life he would have kicked the rest of those presidents’ asses and there would be powdered wigs scattered all over the field. He’s the toughest president we’ve had. And when he’s done, maybe he can do something about Elijah Dukes.

It’s time for the Mets to get all Teddy Roosevelt on the Nats and take care of business. Or more specifically, the bullpen. They keep being handed leads, and keep losing games. Same old, same old. Hopefully the last few games were just a speed bump for Luis Ayala and Brian Stokes. Do we want to see Aaron Heilman in the eight or ninth inning again? After screwing up the weekend series with the Braves, they have to get themselves back together and win at least three against Washington. So far that’s been the team’s trademark in the Jerry Manuel era - shake off a devasting loss (or two) and keep on winning. It’s time to do it again.

Here are the pitching matchups:

Monday: Pedro Martinez (5-4, 5.44) vs. John Lannon (8-13, 4.09)

Tuesday: Mike Pelfrey (13-9, 3.77) vs. Odalis Perez (6-10, 4.48)

Wednesday: Brandon Knight (0-0, 6.43) vs. Shairon Martis (0-2, 2.70)

Thursday: Johan Santana (13-7, 2,70) vs. Tim Redding (10-9, 4.54)

Ex-Mets on Nats:

Jesus FLores: .256/.296/.402, 8 HR, 59 RBI

Anderson Hernandez: .340/.411/.360, 0 HR, 10 RBI

Paul Lo Duca: .230/.301/.281, 0 HR, 12 RBI

Lastings Milledge: .262/.330/.404, 14 HR, 57 RBI

Ex-Nats on Mets:

Marlon Anderson: .215/.257/.285, 1 HR, 10 RBI

Luis Ayala: 1-1, 7 saves, 4.15 ERA, 1.23 WHIP, .288 BAA (as a Met)

Endy Chavez: .271/.310/.335, 1 HR, 12 RBI

Ryan Church: .293/.355/.481, 12 HR, 45 RBI

Brian Schneider: .256/.342/.351, 7 HR, 35 RBI