8/27/17 Game Preview: New York Mets at Washington Nationals, Game 1

The New York Mets (56-72) got smacked by the Washington Nationals (77-50) 9-4 yesterday afternoon. Robert Gsellman was bad, giving up six runs in four innings to earn a temporary demotion to Triple-A Las Vegas and putting the Mets in an early hole they couldn’t recover from. This is a familiar trend for the Mets, who have plenty of disastrous first innings this season, a lot of which have come on Sundays. The Mets will get two shots to reverse their Sunday fortunes today since the two teams will play a day/night doubleheader to make up a rain out from July 5th. First pitch for Game 1 is scheduled for 1:35 pm at Nationals Park.

The Mets will send left hander Tommy Milone (1-3, 8.12 ERA) to the bump this afternoon. Milone was shelled by the Arizona Diamondbacks in his last start, giving up six runs (five earned) in 4.2 innings to lose to the Arizona Diamondbacks last Tuesday. The Nationals will counter with right hander Tanner Roark (10-8, 4.64 ERA). Roark earned his 10th win of the year his last time out, giving up three runs (two earned) in 5.2 innings to top the Houston Astros last Tuesday.

Local Coverage:

Television: SNY

Radio: WOR

New York Mets Lineup:

1. RF Brandon Nimmo
2. CF Juan Lagares
3. 2B Asdrubal Cabrera
4. 3B Wilmer Flores
5. 1B Dominic Smith
6. C Travis d’Arnaud
7. SS Amed Rosario
8. LF Matt Reynolds
9. SP Tommy Milone

Pre-Game Notes:

• Milone has faced the Nationals once in his career, tossing eight shutout innings against them to earn a win in his only start.
• Roark has faced the Mets once this season, giving up three runs in 6.2 innings of work on April 21, but did not factor in the decision.
• After sitting against lefty Gio Gonzalez yesterday, Dominic Smith is back in the Mets’ lineup. Smith will play first base and bat fifth.
• Reliever Kevin McGowan is back with the Mets on the taxi squad and is available as the 26th player for today’s double header.
• This will be the Mets’ second double header of 2017. The Mets swept an earlier double dip against the Atlanta Braves back in June.