Opposite dugout: Mets looking to change fortune against Nats before break

Opposite dugout: Mets looking to change fortune against Nats before break
Manager: Terry Collins (7th season) Record: 38-43 Last 10 games: 7-3 Who to watch: RF Jay Bruce (.261 with 20 HR, 55 RBIs), LF Yoenis Céspedes (.281/.347/.541 with 9 HR, 19 RBIs), 1B Lucas Duda (14 HR, 30 RBIs), RHP Jacob deGrom (8-3, 3.55 ERA, 125 strikeouts), RHP Addison Reed (2.59 ERA, 14 saves) Season series vs. Nationals: 3-7 Pitching probables: July 3: LHP Steven Matz vs. RHP Stephen Strasburg, 6:05 p.m., MASN2 July 4: RHP Seth Lugo vs. RHP Joe Ross, 11:05 a.m., MASN July 5: RHP Jacob...
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Despite 5-1 loss, Ross gaining confidence in changeup

Despite 5-1 loss, Ross gaining confidence in changeup
NEW YORK - Joe Ross pitched fairly well, but Jacob deGrom was better, shutting down the potent Nats offense in a 5-1 series finale Mets victory. deGrom went eight innings, allowing only one unearned run in the first at-bat, scattering three singles with two walks and six strikeouts. The Nationals mustered only four hits against Mets pitching on Sunday. Daniel Murphy's double in the ninth was their lone extra base knock. He now has reached base safely in all 29 games against his former...
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Ross and deGrom trade runs early (Mets win 5-1)

Ross and deGrom trade runs early (Mets win 5-1)
NEW YORK - We're seeing some outstanding pitching to begin the series finale at Citi Field. The Nationals scored in the first inning versus Mets starter Jacob deGrom. With one out, second baseman Wilmer Flores made a fielding error that allowed Brian Goodwin to reach base safely. Bryce Harper singled to the opposite field. A passed ball by Travis d'Arnaud allowed the runners to move up. Ryan Zimmerman's sacrifice fly to right field scored Goodwin. The Nats led 1-0. Right-hander Joe Ross did...
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Lobaton and Romero heroes in Nats' 7-4 win over Mets

Lobaton and Romero heroes in Nats' 7-4 win over Mets
NEW YORK - Jose Lobaton broke out a recent slump and the bullpen helped out Stephen Strasburg this time around in a 7-4 series-clinching victory before 38,059 at Citi Field on Saturday. Strasburg was only able to finish 5 1/3 innings, but he kept the Mets at bay, allowing only two runs. Then, the bullpen was able to take over. The much maligned bullpen surrendered only two runs over 4 2/3 innings to keep the Nationals in front. Manager Dusty Baker was proud of his releivers, who have struggled...
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Nats ride home runs again for early lead (Nats win 7-4)

Nats ride home runs again for early lead (Nats win 7-4)
NEW YORK - The Nationals' big bats do it again with an early strike. Trea Turner led off the game with a solo homer over the left field wall to stake the Nats to a 1-0 lead. It was his seventh longball and third leadoff homer of the season. The blast came on a 1-0 offering from Mets starter Seth Lugo, and was Turner's fifth leadoff homer of his career. In the second, Lugo struck out Adam Lind and Michael A. Taylor. But Jose Lobaton slammed a solo homer in the second level in right field,...
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Kelley feeling tightness in neck, Baker details lineup strategy

Kelley feeling tightness in neck, Baker details lineup strategy
NEW YORK - Nationals right-handed reliever Shawn Kelley pitched the ninth inning in Friday's 7-2 victory over the Mets, allowing a solo homer to Jay Bruce. He then managed to induce two outfield flyouts and a groundout to third base to end the game. But it certainly wasn't an easy three outs for the veteran. Last year, Kelley was hitting around 93-94 mph on his fastball. Last night, the velocity was dropping to 88-90 mph and touching 91. His slider was around 78-80 mph. Manager Dusty Baker...
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Game 68 lineups: Nats at Mets

Game 68 lineups: Nats at Mets
NEW YORK - Right-hander Stephen Strasburg looks to provide the Nationals with a series win at Citi Field in today's late afternoon matchup. Strasburg has a 7-4 record with a 2.64 ERA against the Mets in 13 career starts. Despite winning the first five games this season against the Mets at Citi Field, Friday's winning pitcher Max Scherzer is taking nothing for granted in the National League East race. "It doesn't matter," Scherzer said of the 10-plus-game lead over the Mets. "They're too...
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Nats' instant offense too much for Mets to handle

Nats' instant offense too much for Mets to handle
NEW YORK - Back-to-back homers opened the scoring for the Nationals on their way to a 7-2 win over the Mets at Citi Field on Friday night. Matt Wieters and Michael A. Taylor went back-to-back off Mets left-hander Steven Matz to lead off the third, and the Nats led 2-0. Anthony Rendon smacked a two-run shot off of Matz in the sixth. Bryce Harper and Ryan Zimmerman contributed RBI singles in a three-run ninth inning. The back-to-back homers marked the sixth time this season the Nationals had...
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Scherzer shakes off early command issues, rolls to another 10-K win

Scherzer shakes off early command issues, rolls to another 10-K win
NEW YORK - Max Scherzer continued his almost unbeatable consistency tonight with eight strong innings in a 7-2 victory over the Mets at Citi Field. Scherzer allowed only a late solo homer from José Reyes and three other hits, striking out 10 for the fifth consecutive start to improve to 8-4. Scherzer reached a season-high 118 pitches, 84 for strikes, and benefited from a career-high-tying three groundball double plays to erase big scoring opportunities for the Mets. The Nationals opened the...
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Back-to-back homers help Scherzer early (Nats win 7-2)

Back-to-back homers help Scherzer early (Nats win 7-2)
NEW YORK - After a quiet first two innings, the Nats ignited the offense again with the long ball in the third. Matt Wieters and Michael A. Taylor hit back-to-back homers off of left-hander Steven Matz. Wieters hit his sixth of the season over the left-center field wall. Taylor hit his eighth, an opposite-field jobber over the right field wall near the foul pole. It marked the sixth time this season the Nats have gone back-to-back - the last time June 13 against the Braves, when Ryan Zimmerman...
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Game 67 lineups: Nats at Mets

Game 67 lineups: Nats at Mets
NEW YORK - The Nationals are well ahead in the National League East due in large part to their ability to win on the road. Their 22-12 (.647) record on the road puts the Nats second only to the Rockies (25-13, .658) in the National League. Their 40-26 (.606) overall record is currently fourth-best in the National League behind the Rockies (43-26, .623), Dodgers (41-26, .612) and Diamondbacks (41-26, .612). "It's fun going on the road and playing," said Bryce Harper. "That's when you know...
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Murphy good against the Mets again, so what else is new?

Murphy good against the Mets again, so what else is new?
NEW YORK - Daniel Murphy returned to Citi Field again in his second season with the Nationals and delivered again. Murphy had a two-run triple that highlighted a five-run fifth inning outburst as the Nats won for the fourth time in a row in Flushing this season. The boo birds cascaded down on Murphy during his first few at-bat intros, similar to the treatment Bryce Harper receives on the road. It really can be received as a sign of respect for Murphy, who was the National League Championship...
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Bryce Harper's line-drive homer to begin game was one to remember

Bryce Harper's line-drive homer to begin game was one to remember
NEW YORK - Bryce Harper went 1-for-4 in the Nationals' 8-3 lid-lifting win over the Mets at Citi field. But that one hit. Goodness gracious. Manager Dusty Baker said that home run from Harper was one to remember. "Yeah, that wasn't a moonshot," Baker said. "That was like a Hank Aaron shot. That was like a high line drive. It didn't (take) any time. As soon as he hit it, you knew that ball was out. So it just shows you, like Hank used to say, it's not far, it's how many. And he hit the...
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Wieters and Murphy calm Gonzalez, offense takes over in 8-3 win

Wieters and Murphy calm Gonzalez, offense takes over in 8-3 win
NEW YORK - The offense and Gio Gonzalez have been consistent this season as the Nationals built a big lead against the Mets and the rest of the National League East. Both constants were evident Thursday as the Nats took down the Mets 8-3 in the opener of a four-game series, winning for the fourth straight time at Citi Field. The Nats' five-run fifth inning - highlighted by a two-run triple from Daniel Murphy and a two-run homer from Michael A. Taylor - chased Mets starter Robert...
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Harper's early home run helps Gonzalez (Nats win 8-3)

Harper's early home run helps Gonzalez (Nats win 8-3)
NEW YORK - Left-hander Gio Gonzalez is 9-1 with a 1.62 ERA in 14 lifetime starts at Citi Field. The ERA is the lowest by any opposing pitcher ever at the Mets' home. Gonzalez's 87 strikeouts are the most on any opponent's home field in his career. The Mets went three up, three down in the first. In the second, the Mets' T.J. Rivera connected on a one-out single. But Gonzalez got Lucas Duda to ground out right in front of home plate and René Rivera flew out to center field. The Nationals...
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Game 66 lineups: Nationals at Mets

Game 66 lineups: Nationals at Mets
NEW YORK - Greetings from the Big Apple! The Nationals arrive in Flushing losers of five of their last seven, while the Mets have won five their last six. The Nats' lead over the Mets stands at 8 1/2 games. Left-hander Gio Gonzalez looks to improve on his outstanding start to the season - he's already 5-1 with a 2.91 ERA. Gonzalez beat the Mets 3-1 here April 22, 3-1. He went 6 1/3 innings, allowing only one run on two hits with three walks and six strikeouts. The Mets counter with...
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Opposite dugout: Injuries have hurt Mets in quest to challenge for NL East lead

Opposite dugout: Injuries have hurt Mets in quest to challenge for NL East lead
Manager: Terry Collins (7th season) Record: 30-34 Last 10 games: 6-4 Who to watch: 3B Wilmer Flores (.313), LF Yoenis Céspedes (.307/.391/.653 with 7 HR, 15 RBIs), CF Michael Conforto (.292/.410/.589 with 14 HR, 36 RBIs), RF Jay Bruce (17 HR, 45 RBIs), RHP Jacob deGrom (5-3, 4.33 ERA), RHP Addison Reed (2.62 ERA, 11 saves) Season series vs. Nationals: 2-4 Pitching probables: June 15: LHP Gio Gonzalez vs. RHP Robert Gsellman, 7:10 p.m., MASN June 16: RHP Max Scherzer vs. LHP Steven Matz,...
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Looking at closer issues around baseball

Looking at closer issues around baseball
The Nationals lead the National League East despite a bullpen that brings daily turbulence. This week at Nationals Park they will see first-hand that they aren't the only team with late-inning issues. The Nationals' bullpen ERA (5.40) is 29th in baseball. Seattle's bullpen has the highest ERA in the majors at 5.44, while San Diego is 27th at 5.04. The Mariners and Padres play in D.C. this week. Edwin Díaz, and his blazing fastball, was the Mariners closer at the season's start, but he...
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Ross allowing too many home runs in first three starts

Ross allowing too many home runs in first three starts
With the unusual conditions in Denver, a start where your breaking ball doesn't break and your velocity is a tick off might be brushed aside. But when you can't go six or seven innings for the second straight start, is that cause for concern? Right-hander Joe Ross was held back at Triple-A Syracuse a couple of weeks before a fifth starter was needed in the Nationals rotation. Was that strategy simply meant to lessen Ross' work load? Or was it also a red flag concerning where his stamina is...
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Syndergaard leaves game in second (Nats win 23-5)

Syndergaard leaves game in second (Nats win 23-5)
The Nationals brought the hammer down in the first inning against Mets starter Noah Syndergaard. Batting around, the Nats scored five runs on five hits with RBI singles from Ryan Zimmerman, Anthony Rendon, Michael A. Taylor and Joe Ross. Rendon's single scored two runs. Bryce Harper was walked and scored. The Mets intentionally walked Matt Wieters only to surrender a clean single to Ross into left field. Zimmerman now has at least one RBI in six of his last eight at-bats. The Mets scored...
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