Play Ball? Mets Open Series With Nationals, Weather Permitting
NEW YORK (WFAN/AP) -- Between the weather in New York and injury news, it has been a tough week for the Mets. The Washington Nationals have also dealt with the rain, but they like the way they've been playing of late.
The Mets and Nationals open a two-game series at Citi Field on Wednesday night after the two worst teams in the NL East had their previous games postponed due to inclement weather.
Last-place New York (19-22) learned before Monday's meeting with Florida that third baseman David Wright will need to go on the disabled list because of a stress fracture in his lower back.
Wright, batting .226 with six homers and 18 RBIs, initially tried to play through what he thought was merely back stiffness, which had been bothering him since he made a diving tag on Houston's Carlos Lee on April 19.
"By no means is this thing a cop-out or an excuse for what I've done so far," Wright said. "I've played through it and when I take the field, I expect to play at a certain level, and thus far I haven't been able to play at that level."
He joins first baseman Ike Davis (ankle) and center fielder Angel Pagan (oblique) on the sidelines, while right-hander Chris Young had season-ending shoulder surgery and top prospect Jenrry Mejia underwent Tommy John surgery on Monday.
Following all those injury developments, the Mets went on to lose 2-1 to the Marlins in 11 innings in a game delayed over an hour and played in a thick, soupy mist.
"A long day," left fielder Jason Bay told the Mets' official website. "A weird day. ... It stinks, but baseball is every day. We'll get them tomorrow."
Bay and the Mets didn't get that chance as Tuesday's game was postponed.
The same went for Washington (20-21) at home against Pittsburgh after the Nationals posted a 4-2 win in Monday night's series opener. They have won two in a row and six of 10 following a 6-10 stretch.
"We have a lot of guys that have a little attitude," utility man Jerry Hairston Jr. told the Nationals' official website. "We have a little swagger."
Tom Gorzelanny (2-2, 3.40 ERA) will try to lead Washington to three straight wins for just the second time. The Nationals won a season-best four in a row April 15-20.
Gorzelanny is 2-0 with a 2.42 ERA in his last four starts.
The left-hander has faced the Mets twice this season. He allowed six runs in 5 1-3 innings of an 8-4 loss at Citi Field on April 9 and didn't receive a decision after giving up one run over 6 1-3 innings in a 6-3 home defeat April 27.
The Mets will give the ball to Jonathon Niese (2-4, 5.03), who is 1-6 with a 5.69 ERA in his last 10 home starts. The left-hander nearly helped New York tie Monday's game after producing a two-out, pinch-hit triple in the bottom of the 11th, but Jose Reyes stranded him by striking out.
Niese won 9-5 at Colorado on Thursday despite allowing five runs in 6 1-3 innings. He hasn't faced the Nationals this season and is 1-0 with a 5.56 ERA in two starts against them.
The Nationals won two of three in New York from April 8-10 before the Mets returned the favor in Washington at the end of last month.
How will the Mets fare against the Nats? Make your prediction below...
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