New York Mets vs. Washington Nationals – August 5th, 2020

Updated: Aug 6, 2020 2:37 am

The New York Mets are playing against the Washington Nationals in Nationals park, on August 5th, 2020. Rick Porcello is starting for the Mets and Max Scherzer is starting for the Nationals. Here are the opening lineups.

Entering the Game (Preview)

 Juan Soto is making his 2020 debut, after saying he got a false positive on a coronavirus test. He has not played in a game this year due to the very strict rules set in Washington D.C.  Soto is hoping to start a terrific Max Scherzer is starting for the Washington Nationals and the matchup to watch is him and Michael Conforto. Conforto has great career numbers against Max Scherzer. He is batting .321 with 4 homeruns lifetime against Scherzer.

Conforto is also looking to continue his streak of getting on base for all 12 games so far, this season. Brandon Nimmo also has a 27 game on base streak, dating back to last year. Pete Alonso is trying to bust out of his slump. J.D. Davis has a 9 game hitting streak going entering the game. Rick Porcello will be trying to make up for his 2 poor starts of the season. 

The Mets lead the league in on base percentage but are 8th in the league in runs scored. They are hoping to break out and start a consistent streak of being able to drive in runners.

NATIONALS

SS Trea Turner

RF Adam Eaton

2B Starlin Castro

LF Juan Soto

DH Howie Kendrick

3B Asdrúbal Cabrera

1B Eric Thames

C Kurt Suzuki

CF Victor Robles

RHP Max Scherzer

BULLPEN

Erick Fedde enters in Top 2nd

Sam Freeman enters in Top 5th

Wander Suero enters in Top 6th

Sean Doolitlle enters in Top 7th

Kyle Finnegan enters in Top 7th

Javy Guerra enters in Top 9th

METS

LF Brandon Nimmo

RF Michael Conforto  

1B Pete Alonso

DH Dominic Smith

3B J.D. Davis

SS Andrés Giménez

C Wilson Ramos

2B Luis Guillorme

CF Billy Hamilton

RHP Rick Porcello

BULLPEN

Seth Lugo enters in Bottom 8th

Mets Runs-

Smith sac-flies out and Nimmo scores with Soto fielding the ball in left field. 

Luis Guillorme singles to center field, Davis scores. 

Smith doubles, Nimmo scores. Alonso to third. 

Nationals Runs- 

Juan Soto doubles to drive in Adam Eaton.

Notes-

Max Scherzer exits the game after just 1 inning pitched and 27 pitches thrown. Erick Fedde was warming up 25 minutes before the game started, causing one to think Scherzer had problems before the game started. Eric Thames showed off his glove early in the game, with a diving catch and throw to first and a nice play drifting over to the base to catch a ball hit by  Billy Hamilton. In the post game interviews, it was revealed Max Scherzer left the game with a sore hamstring. 

J.D. Davis extends his hitting streak to 10 games, the longest of his career. Billy Hamilton steals the 300th base of his career. Nimmo walked 3 times in the game. Pete Alonso hit a double, making it back to back games he had a hit. A good sign considering the slump he is in.

Rick Porcello strikes out 4, gives up 1 run and goes 7 innings in his best start for the Mets so far. Porcello pounded the zone, using his sinker. He used 81 pitches to get through 7 innings, a very efficient start. He definitely made up for the 2 poor starts from earlier in the year. Lugo relieves him in the bottom of the 8th, and finishes the game without giving up any runs or hits. Lugo recorded the 5th, 6 out save of his career.  J.D. Davis has shown he can be a reliable 3rd baseman during this game, as well as Guillorme at 2nd base.