Opposite dugout: Mets and Nats have traveled different paths since opening series

Opposite dugout: Mets and Nats have traveled different paths since opening series
Manager: Terry Collins (5th year) Record: 15-7 Last 10 games: 6-4 Who to watch: 1B Lucas Duda (.312, 2 HR, 12 RBIs), CF Juan Lagares (.299, 11 RBIs), LHP Jonathon Niese (2-1, 2.74 ERA), RHP Jacob deGrom (2-2, 2.96 ERA), RHP Matt Harvey (4-0, 3.04 ERA, 31 Ks), RHP Jeurys Familia (1.69 ERA, 9 saves). Season series vs. Nationals: 2-1 Pitching probables: April 30 - RHP Stephen Strasburg vs. RHP Jacob deGrom, 7:10 p.m. MASN May 1 - RHP Max Scherzer vs. RHP Matt Harvey, 7:10 p.m., MASN May 2 - LHP...
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Opposite dugout: Upstart Mets hoping arms lead club to improved campaign

Opposite dugout: Upstart Mets hoping arms lead club to improved campaign
Manager: Terry Collins, fifth year 2014 record: 79-83 Who to watch (2014 stats): 1B Lucas Duda (.253/.349/.481, 30 HR, 92 RBIs); 2B Daniel Murphy (.289/.332/.403, 37 doubles, 9 HR, 57 RBIs); RHP Jacob deGrom (9-6, 2.69 ERA, 1.14 WHIP); RHP Matt Harvey (DNP, Tommy John surgery) Season series vs. Nats (2014): 4-15, 52 runs scored, 95 runs allowed Pitching probables April 6: RHP Bartolo Colon vs. RHP Max Scherzer, 4 p.m., MASN April 8: RHP Jacob deGrom vs. RHP Jordan Zimmermann, 7 p.m., MASN2...
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NL East opponents concerned if Scherzer pitches for Nats

NL East opponents concerned if Scherzer pitches for Nats
So much for another quiet offseason for the Nationals. Last week, the Nationals acquired shortstop Yunel Escobar to shore up their infield. They sent fan favorite and eighth-inning eraser Tyler Clippard to Oakland to complete the deal. Now there are reports that the Nationals have agreed to a seven-year deal with 2013 Cy Young Award winner Max Scherzer, who went 39-8 the past two seasons with 492 strikeouts for the Tigers. NJ.com, which covers the Mets, believes this makes it even more...
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Tommy John comebacks could be deciding factor in NL East

Tommy John comebacks could be deciding factor in NL East
Last year, the baseball season was defined by a record number of pitchers sidelined with Tommy John surgery, a procedure that requires ligament replacement in the elbow. This season, star pitchers who missed 2014 will be returning, and the National League East could be in for a big change as far as the teams that will challenge the Nationals. The Nationals won the division by 17 games last season, but the Atlanta Braves - usually their biggest challenger - are short on pitching thanks in part...
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Mets jump on top early on a soggy Thursday (Mets win 7-4)

Mets jump on top early on a soggy Thursday (Mets win 7-4)
On a soggy field and a misty Thursday, it did not take long for the Mets to get on the board in Game 1 of a split doubleheader. Facing Nationals starter Blake Treinen, the Mets connected on three singles in the first inning. Curtis Granderson's single to right field plated Wilmer Flores and the Mets lead 1-0. In the bottom of the first, the Nationals went 1-2-3 against Dillon Gee. The Mets lead 1-0 heading to top of the second. Update: In the third inning following a Danny Espinosa leadoff...
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Opposite dugout: Mets still have chance at winning record as they face Nats for last time in '14

Opposite dugout: Mets still have chance at winning record as they face Nats for last time in '14
Manager: Terry Collins, fourth year Record: 76-80 Last 10 games: 5-5 Who to watch: 1B Lucas Duda (.254/.354/.479, 26 doubles, 28 HR, 86 RBIs); 2B Daniel Murphy (.295/.339/.410, 35 doubles, 9 HR, 55 RBIs); LHP Jon Niese (9-11, 3.50 ERA, 1.29 WHIP); RHP Bartolo Colon (14-12, 4.02 ERA, 1.21 WHIP) Season series vs. Nats: 3-13, 43 runs scored, 84 runs allowed Pitching probables Sept. 23: Bartolo Colon vs. Tanner Roark, 7 p.m., MASN2 HD Sept. 24: Dillon Gee vs. Gio Gonzalez, 7 p.m., MASN HD Sept....
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Opposite dugout: Mets the NL's hottest team as they welcome Nats to New York

Opposite dugout: Mets the NL's hottest team as they welcome Nats to New York
Manager: Terry Collins, fourth year Record: 71-75 Last 10 games: 8-2 Who to watch: 1B Lucas Duda (.248/.347/.477, 23 doubles, 27 HR, 81 RBIs); 2B Daniel Murphy (.301/.344/.422, 34 doubles, 9 HR, 53 RBIs, 73 R); RHP Bartolo Colon (13-11, 3.96 ERA, 1.16 WHIP); RHP Zack Wheeler (10-9, 3.38 ERA, 1.31 WHIP) Season series vs. Nats: 2-10, 34 runs scored, 62 runs allowed Pitching probables Sept. 11: Bartolo Colon vs. Tanner Roark, 7 p.m., MASN HD Sept. 12: Dillon Gee vs. Gio Gonzalez, 7 p.m., MASN2...
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Opposite dugout: Mets try to stop skid vs. Nats at Citi Field

Opposite dugout: Mets try to stop skid vs. Nats at Citi Field
Manager: Terry Collins, fourth year Record: 57-62 Last 10 games: 5-5 Who to watch: 1B Lucas Duda (.258/.352/.492, 22 doubles, 21 HR, 64 RBIs); 2B Daniel Murphy (.304/.347/.437, 33 doubles, 9 HR, 51 RBIs, 67 R); RHP Dillon Gee (4-4, 3.54 ERA, 1.10 WHIP); RHP Bartolo Colon (11-9, 3.97 ERA, 1.16 WHIP) Season series vs. Nats: 2-7, 30 runs scored, 48 runs allowed Pitching probables Aug. 12: Rafael Montero vs. Doug Fister, 7 p.m., MASN2 HD Aug. 13: Bartolo Colon vs. Jordan Zimmermann, 7 p.m., MASN2...
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Hearing from LaRoche, Fister and Espinosa after 7-1 rout of Mets

Hearing from LaRoche, Fister and Espinosa after 7-1 rout of Mets
The Nationals' home runs returned in a 7-1 rout of the Mets. Adam LaRoche hit a pair of homers while Danny Espinosa cranked a three-run shot. Starter Doug Fister did his part, too. He went 7 1/3 innings without allowing an earned run to post his 11th win of the season. LaRoche hadn't hit a home run since July 22. The two homers were his first at home since June 30. Did he feel any different at the plate Wednesday night? "Not really. Other than it's nice to see them go in the seats and...
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Opposite dugout: Mets challenge Nats with quality young pitching in D.C.

Opposite dugout: Mets challenge Nats with quality young pitching in D.C.
Manager: Terry Collins, fourth year Record: 53-59 Last 10 games: 5-5 Who to watch: 1B Lucas Duda (.261/.358/.508, 22 doubles, 20 HR, 61 RBIs); 2B Daniel Murphy (.296/.341/.429, 31 doubles, 9 HR, 45 RBIs, 65 R); RHP Jacob deGrom (6-5, 2.77 ERA, 1.22 WHIP); LHP Jon Niese (5-7, 3.24 ERA, 1.26 WHIP) Season series vs. Nats: 1-5, 20 runs scored, 35 runs allowed Pitching probables Aug. 5: Zack Wheeler vs. Gio Gonzalez, 7 p.m., MASN2 HD Aug. 6: Jon Niese vs. Doug Fister, 7 p.m., MASN2 HD Aug. 7: Jacob...
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Harper batting sixth in reworked Nats lineup

Harper batting sixth in reworked Nats lineup
NEW YORK - The injury to Wilson Ramos has at least partly led to a handful of changes to the Nationals lineup. Anthony Rendon, who hit eighth on opening day, will bat second today. Adam LaRoche, who hit seventh in the opener, will hit cleanup today. Ian Desmond will bat seventh. And most surprising of all, Bryce Harper will bat sixth for the Nationals today against Mets right-hander Bartolo Colon. Harper has battled lower than the No. 5 spot in the order just four times - the first four games...
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Opposite dugout: Meet the 2014 Mets

Opposite dugout: Meet the 2014 Mets
Manager: Terry Collins, fourth year Record (2013): 74-88 Last 10 games: N/A Who to watch (2013 stats): 3B David Wright (.307/.390/.514, 18 HR, 58 RBIs); RF Curtis Granderson (.229/.317/.407, 7 HR, 15 RBIs); RHP Dillon Gee (12-11, 3.62 ERA); RHP Bartolo Colon (18-6, 2.65 ERA) Season series vs. Nats (2013): 7-12, 76 runs scored, 88 runs allowed Pitching probables March 31: Dillon Gee vs. Stephen Strasburg, 1 p.m., MASN2 HD April 2: Bartolo Colon vs. Gio Gonzalez, 7 p.m., MASN2 HD April 3: Zack...
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Nats lineup vs. Mets has Walters starting at second (Walters scratched)

Nats lineup vs. Mets has Walters starting at second (Walters scratched)
VIERA, Fla. - Zach Walters has played just 11 games at second base in his professional career. He'll play second today as the Nationals host the Mets for the first time this spring. Gio Gonzalez will make his spring debut today, and the Nats lineup features many regulars. Anthony Rendon and Danny Espinosa are both out of the starting lineup, however, and Walters is getting a rare start there. I asked manager Matt Williams about the decision to play Walters at second today, and I'll have...
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Are the Nats the team to beat in the NL East?

Are the Nats the team to beat in the NL East?
I went into spring training this year feeling that the Nationals were the favorites in the National League East by a pretty wide margin. I wasn't alone in this line of thinking. In fact, I believe the vast majority of the baseball world was with me. The Nats, after all, were coming off a 98-win season and their first division title in team history, had seemingly improved their roster with the additions of Dan Haren, Rafael Soriano and Denard Span, and would go into the 2013 season having...
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Roark back to the hill in series finale vs. Mets

Roark back to the hill in series finale vs. Mets
Tanner Roark's first major league start couldn't have gone much better. Roark threw six scoreless innings, allowing just four hits, walking none and striking out four in a win over the Marlins. The rookie right-hander improved to 5-0 with that win, and his ERA dropped to a sparkling 0.94. Today, Roark gets the ball again in the finale of the Nationals' four-game series with the Mets. The Nats have taken the first three in New York and are gunning for a much-needed sweep. Veteran...
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Harper returns, hitting cleanup

Harper returns, hitting cleanup
After missing the last four games with left hip inflammation, Bryce Harper is back in the Nationals lineup today, playing left field and hitting cleanup. Harper went back to D.C. over the weekend to get checked out by Nationals medical director Dr. Wiemi Douoguih. He was told to sit out Monday and Tuesday's games, but took batting practice at Citi Field yesterday and felt well enough to have Davey Johnson write him back in the lineup for tonight's contest. This will mark just the fourth...
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Lombardozzi, Moore in Nats lineup against Gee

Lombardozzi, Moore in Nats lineup against Gee
As teammates, good friends and roommates, Steve Lombardozzi and Tyler Moore are around each other a lot. That's why, as a joke, an unknown member of the Nationals took Moore's jersey, hat and baseball gloves during the last homestand and put them in Lombardozzi's locker. When Moore walked into the Nats clubhouse and made his way toward his locker, he noticed his stuff was gone. The confused Moore started spinning around looking, trying to figure out what was going on, only to find his gear...
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Ohlendorf scuffling out of the gates (the deficit increases)

Ohlendorf scuffling out of the gates (the deficit increases)
The Reds lost in Colorado today, so if the Nationals can pick up a win tonight, they can get back to 6 1/2 games behind Cincinnati in the wild card chase. They're certainly not off to a good start. The Nats trail 2-0 after a half inning thanks to a shaky start by Ross Ohlendorf. The veteran right-hander allowed back-to-back doubles to Eric Young and Daniel Murphy to start the game, then surrendered an RBI single to Lucas Duda to give the Mets a two-run lead. The first four Mets hitters to...
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A few Werth notes (plus Mets-Nats lineups)

A few Werth notes (plus Mets-Nats lineups)
It's taken Jayson Werth a little while to build his plate appearances up to the level needed to qualify among the league leaders, but he has finally gotten there. And he now finds himself in the top three among National League players in three major categories. Werth's .325 batting average ranks third in the National League behind just Yadier Molina (.330) and Chris Johnson (.326). His on-base percentage (.402) ranks third, behind Joey Votto (.434) and Shin-Soo Choo (.410). And Werth ranks...
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On last night and the Nats' issues with Gee

On last night and the Nats' issues with Gee
A couple of hours after the Nationals fell to the Mets in a tight 3-2 ballgame last night, the Reds also lost, keeping the Nats 6 1/2 games back in the National League wild card chase. Does the Nats' loss sting even more knowing that they could have made up more ground on Cincinnati with a victory last night, or do you find yourself just breathing a sigh of relief that the Reds didn't pick up another game on the Nats yesterday? With just 28 games remaining on their schedule, the Nats need...
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