New Mets Reliever Tyler Clippard On The Nats: 'They're Beatable'
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- Tyler Clippard knows a thing or two about the Nationals.
The reliever, who was traded to the Mets on Monday for minor league pitcher Casey Meisner, pitched in Washington, D.C. from 2008-14.
Now with the Amazin's, the 30-year-old is chasing his former team. And he sees no reason why the Mets can't catch Bryce Harper and Co.
"They're beatable," Clippard said on Tuesday, according to ESPN.com. "There's no perfect team in baseball right now. Everybody can go on skids. Everybody is vulnerable. Obviously, they've battled the injury bug this year. I think they're getting a couple of guys back today.
"But you never know. It's one of those things -- you've got to play the season out and see what happens. But everyone was talking before the season that their rotation was one of the best in the game, if not the best. And from what I've seen this year, this rotation here in New York compares -- if it's not better -- than what they've got over there.
"There's something to be said for that."
Clippard, who was the closer in Oakland, is now the setup man for Jeurys Familia, who will continue to pitch ninth innings. The veteran will help a team that relies heavily on pitching to win games, and a bullpen that just lost reliever Jenrry Mejia to another drug suspension.
With the Mets' win and the Nationals' loss on Tuesday night, New York moved to within one game of Washington for first place in the National League East. The two teams will meet for a weekend series at Citi Field beginning on Friday.
"The Mets, here, are right in the mix," Clippard said, according to the website. "And it's going to be a lot of fun chasing down my old teammates there in Washington. There's a lot of incentive there for me on a personal level and on a professional level to get the job done here in New York."
The two-time All-Star made his Mets debut on Tuesday night, allowing a hit in a scoreless inning.