Nats take third crack at All-Star Jacob deGrom (with lineups)

By Josh Land

Nationals

July 21, 2015, 11:41am

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Mets ace Jacob deGrom takes the mound tonight in his first appearance since stealing the show in the All-Star Game a week ago. deGrom, the 2014 National League Rookie of the Year, blazed through the sixth inning last Tuesday, whiffing Oakland's Stephen Vogt and Cleveland's Jason Kipnis on 97 mph heaters before fooling Detroit's Jose Iglesias on a filthy curveball.

The long-haired 27-year-old brings a 9-6 record and 2.14 ERA into tonight's start, but two of his losses have come to the Nationals. Ryan Zimmerman's first inning two-run homer was enough as the Nats held on to beat deGrom 2-1 in the second game of the season. On April 30, the Nats plated five runs (three earned) against the right-hander in an 8-2 win.

Clint Robinson is 10-for-26 (.385) in his last seven games, which includes hits off Clayton Kershaw, Zack Greinke and Matt Harvey.

"It's just get an opportunity and try to do the best you can," Robinson said. "It's cool to get hits off those guys, but we're going to be facing them more. I'm not really going to hang my hat on seeing-eye singles and stuff like that. I'm going to stay humble about that and try to go out and get them the next time."

For the Mets:

RF Curtis Granderson
SS Ruben Tejada
3B Daniel Murphy
1B Lucas Duda
2B Wilmer Flores
LF Kirk Nieuwenhuis
C Kevin Plawecki
RHP Jacob deGrom
CF Juan Lagares

For the Nationals:

CF Michael A. Taylor
2B Danny Espinosa
RF Bryce Harper
3B Yunel Escobar
1B Clint Robinson
SS Ian Desmond
C Wilson Ramos
LF Matt den Dekker
RHP Joe Ross