The New York Mets will look to extend their season-long five-game winning streak on Wednesday night against the Washington Nationals. Yesterday, the Mets made a power pitcher pay when he left balls in the zone, then took advantage of a pitch that hung from his relief partner. Even better, in a shortened outing for Chris Young, the bullpen came in for 4 1/3 innings and slammed the door shut, allowing just four hits and one run. Lately, there hasn't been one method to the Mets' winning ways, which certainly is an encouraging sign.
Wednesday night knuckleballer R.A. Dickey will take the hill hoping to find some consistency in a season that's been up and down for him. While he sports a 4.10 ERA and 1.60 WHIP, he's 1-3 on the season and has given up zero runs, three runs, five runs and four runs in his four starts this year. He's given the Mets innings but his control has been a bit off at the start of this year. Against the Nats on April 8, he tossed his shortest outing of the year, five innings, and allowed three runs while walking five. New York is on a roll now, though, and Dickey will want to keep that going.
The Mets will face the Nationals' left-hander Tom Gorzelanny. The 28-year-old is 0-2 on the season and has a 4.96 ERA and a very low 1.16 WHIP. New York defeated him in his first start of the season, putting six runs (five earned) on the board in 5 1/3 innings, though they did strikeout eight times.
With a set against the Phillies looming this weekend, the Mets need to continue grabbing wins against weaker competition and keep the momentum rolling.