Game 30: Nats at Mets
Zack Littell hopes to get right tonight against a star-studded, but struggling New York lineup that needs to get right itself after a 9-19 start
NEW YORK – Hello from Citi Field, where the natives are restless. The Mets entered the day tied with the Phillies for the worst record in baseball at 9-19, and the Phillies fired manager Rob Thomson this morning. A lot of folks around here are wondering when/if the ax will fall on somebody associated with the Mets. Perhaps, as they did last September, the Nationals will play a major role in their division rival’s downfall.
The Nats finally got to enjoy a day off for the first time in 2 1/2 weeks, so they’re rested and refreshed for tonight’s series opener. It’s an important start for Zack Littell, who has battered around in recent outings and has surrendered an MLB-leading 11 home runs. For all the star power in its lineup, New York ranks among the worst offensive clubs in the majors so far this season. This sounds like a recipe for somebody to get right. The only question is whether it will be Littell or the Mets.
Clay Holmes has not been the problem around here. The veteran right-hander enters tonight’s start with a 2.10 ERA and 1.033 WHIP in five starts. He’s only striking out 5.7 batters per nine innings, but he’s inducing a whole lot of weak contact. Opponents are batting under .200 against all three of his most-used pitches (sinker, sweeper, changeup).
Nationals president of baseball operations Paul Toboni is on this trip, and he’s expected to meet with reporters later this afternoon, the first time he’s done a group session like that since the home opener. I’ll have more from that later on, so be on the lookout for that.
WASHINGTON NATIONALS at NEW YORK METS
Where: Citi Field
Gametime: 7:10 p.m. EDT
TV: Nationals TV (channel listings)
Radio: 106.7 FM
Weather: Cloudy, 58 degrees, wind 10 mph out to left
NATIONALS
RF James Wood
1B Luis García Jr.
DH Brady House
SS CJ Abrams
LF Daylen Lile
CF Jacob Young
3B Jorbit Vivas
C Drew Millas
2B Nasim Nuñez
RHP Zack Littell
METS
3B Bo Bichette
DH Juan Soto
C Francisco Alvarez
LF MJ Melendez
1B Mark Vientos
RF Brett Baty
2B Marcus Semien
CF Carson Benge
SS Ronny Mauricio
RHP Clay Holmes
So ... obviously the Vivas error opened the door to that inning coming apart for the Nats, but Littell still got himself into the jam and then couldn't get himself out of it. Based on what Toboni said this afternoon, the team isn't going to just give up on him yet. But you do have to wonder if they need to take a hard look at him and consider making some kind of change, even if it's just comparable to what they've done with Mikolas.
Welp, away we go. Littell at least bounced back to retire the next three batters after serving up his MLB-leading 12th home run to Bichette to lead off the bottom of the first.