Game Details: Washington Nationals (45 – 53; 4th NL East) v. New York Mets (49-49 2nd NL East)
Pitching Matchup: RHP Paolo Espino (3–3, 3.66 ERA) | RHP Carlos Carrasco (0–0, 3.24)
Date & Time: August 10, 2021; 7:10 pm EDT | Game #113 / Road #54
Location: Citi Field | Flushing, NY
TV: MASN
Radio: 106.7 the Fan
Today in Washington Nationals History
2020 – Washington scored a season-high 16 runs on 17 hits to beat the New York Mets. Asdrúbal Cabrera led the way, going 4-for-4 with two doubles, two homers, five RBI and three runs scored. He set a careerhigh in extra-base hits (4) and total bases (12) and matched a career-high with five RBI. According to STATS Inc, Cabrera was the first player to go 4-for-4 with four extra-base hits against a former team since Johnny Cooney of the Dodgers did it against the Boston Bees on Aug. 21, 1937.
Washington Nationals Game StoryLine:
The Washington Nationals open a three game series against the now third place New York Mets at Citi Field. The Nationals enter this series having won the last three games against the Mets and four of the last five games against them. This will be Paolo Espino’s first start ever at Citi Field.
Pitching Matchup
RHP Paolo Espino (3–3, 3.66 ERA)
In his last start against the Phillies, Espino, Allowed six earned runs on eight hits with three strikeouts, one walk and one home run and got his first lost since June 11 v. the Giants.
Against the Mets: Makes his second career start against the New York Mets and tonight’s game will be his first career start at Citi Field. Espino not allowed an earned run in three previous appearances (one start) dating to the end of the 2020 season.
Carrasco made his second start of the season on August 4 against the Marlins in Miami…Carrasco threw 62 pitches in 4.1 innings and allowed two earned runs on five hits, struck out five batters and walked no one. Both runs allowed by Carrasco came in the bottom of the fifth inning.
Against the Nationals: Carrasco is 0-1 in two games (one start) with a 5.14 ERA (four earned runs/7.0 innings pitched) against the Nationals…On July 27, 2016, Carrasco started and suffered the loss after allowing three earned runs in 6.0 innings on three hits and three walks, while striking out five batters at Progressive Field. In his final appearance of the 2019 season, Carrasco allowed one earned run in 1.0 inning of relief at Nationals Park on September 2019.
GameNotes
Capitan Zimmerman
On Sunday afternoon, first baseman Ryan Zimmerman recorded his 1,767th game with the Nationals, tying Tim Wallach for most games played in franchise (MON/WSH) history…He finished the day going 3-for-5 with two doubles and two RBI. Additionally, Zimmerman has recorded 26 career home runs against the New York Mets…Among active players, his 26 homers against the Mets rank fourth in Major League Baseball behind Giancarlo Stanton (36), Bryce Harper (30) and Freddie Freeman (28).
Your Still the Juan
Juan Soto is the only player in the Majors with more walks than strikeouts on the season, leading the Majors with a 1.20 BB/SO ratio (79 BB/66 SO). Soto has reached base safely in 21 of his last 23 games (.510 OBP) and 46 of his last 50 games (.450 OBP). Soto has reached base safely in all five of his games against the Mets in 2021 and has hit safely in four of the five, going 6-for-15 (.400).
His .400 batting average against the Mets is tied for second highest among any hitter in Major League Baseball when facing New York (NL) this season…He has reached base safely in 11 straight games against the Mets, dating to Aug. 12, 2020 (13 H, HBP, 8 BB).
This Call to the Bullpen is sponsored by…
Here are some notes about the Washington Nationals relievers:
Kyle Finnegan has tossed scoreless relief in 14 of his last 16 outings, pitching to a 1.08 ERA (2 ER/16.2 IP) with three saves, five holds, 13 strikeouts and five walks…Opposing batters are hitting .193 (11-for-57).
Ryne Harper surrendered a run in his first outing of the season, April 18 vs. Arizona. Since that date, he has tossed scoreless relief in 15 of 16 outings across four Major League stints. Harper has allowed just 1-of-10 inherited runners to score while striking out 15 batters, walking five and allowing a .119 opponents average (8-for-67).
Andres Machado recorded his first career win on Saturday night after striking out two batters in the bottom of the eighth inning…He has tossed 6.2 innings of scoreless relief in his last seven games and allowed just one hit and one intentional walk. Opposing batters have gone 1-for-21 (.048) across this span.
Mason Thompson has pitched scoreless relief in his first three games with the Nationals and has allowed four hits, one walk and struck out four batters in 2.2 innings of work.
The Sliding Mets
The Mets he team fell to the Phillies, 3-0, on Sunday. It was the fifth time this year they were swept. The Mets have dropped a season-high four straight, seven of their last eight games and nine of their last 11…The last time the Mets lost five straight games was August 29-September 1, 2020…The Mets are 9-15 since the All-Star break. Tonight, the team starts a six game homestand against the Nationals (three games) and then the Dodgers (three games).
Game Lineups (Subject To Change without Notice)
Washington Nationals
V. Robles CF
A. Escobar SS
J. Soto RF
J. Bell 1B
Y. Hernandez LF
C. Kieboom 3B
L. Garica 2B
R. Adams C
P. Espino P
New York Mets
B. Nimmo CF
J. McNeil 2B
P. Alonso 1B
D. Smith LF
M. Conforto RF
J.D. Davis 3B
J. Villar SS
J. McCann C
C. Carrasco P
