WASHINGTON NATIONALS NOTES:
OPPONENT – NEW YORK METS
The Nationals and Mets will play 13 times in 2022 (6 in D.C., 7 in N.Y.)…Bench coach Tim Bogar, assistant hitting coach Pat Roessler, first base coach Eric Young Jr., third base coach Gary DiSarcina, bullpen coach Ricky Bones and catching/strategy coach Henry Blanco all spent time with the Mets as a player, coach or both…Dom Smith spent 2017-2022 in the Major Leagues with the Mets after they drafted him in the first round of 2013.
LOOKING FOR A SERIES WIN IN NEW YORK
Following a 5-0 win over the Mets last night, led by Josiah Gray’s 6.0 shutout innings, the Nationals look for a series win tonight in
Flushing…One win in the next two games would clinch the Nationals second series-win in their last three trips to Citi Field…They previously took two out of three from Sept. 2-4, 2022.
• Josiah Gray earned his first win of the season after he worked 6.0 shutout innings and struck out nine while he allowed just four hits and one walk…Gray now owns a 1.59 ERA (4 ER/22.2 IP) over his last four starts…He has struck out 21 over those starts.
• Mason Thompson followed with 3.0 shutout innings for his second career 3.0-inning save…Thompson previously pitched 3.0 scoreless innings in St. Louis on September 5, 2022 for his first career save. ..Thompson is the only pitcher in Nationals history (2005-pres.) to have multiple 3.0 inning saves…He is one of 29 in franchise history (WSH-MON) and the first since Anthony Telford closed out his second 3.0-inning save against the Milwaukee Brewers on May 22, 1999.
• Offensively, The Nationals were led by Keibert Ruiz (3-for-4, HR, RBI, BB, R) and Joey Meneses (3-for5, 2 RBI)…Ruiz’s home run in the second inning was the first run scored for Josiah Gray while he’s been in a game this season…All five runs last night came while Gray was in the game.
• The shutout was the Nationals first shutout of the season and first shutout against the Mets since June 18, 2021 at Nationals Park…It’s the Nationals first shutout at Citi Field since April 4, 2019.
LEADING MAN
Keibert Ruiz leads all Major League catchers in batting average (minimum nine games played) since April 12…Ruiz is 14-for-36 (.389) with two doubles, a home run, five RBI and a walk, in nine games since April 12.
• Ruiz has not struck out in that span and is third in Major League Baseball in strikeout percentage this season (7.5%).
• Ruiz has not struck out in 38 straight plate appearances dating to April 11 at Los Angeles (AL)…It is the longest active streak in Major League Baseball and the second-longest streak in MLB this season, according to the Elias Sports Bureau, behind Chicago’s (NL) Nico Hoerner (42 PA)…Elias also notes that it is Ruiz’s longest streak within a season and the second-longest streak of his career (46 PA, Sept. 20, 2021 to April 10, 2022).
HE’S…HEATING UP
In 14 games since April 7, Joey Meneses is hitting .311 (19-for-61) with five doubles, one homer, eight RBI, three walks and three runs scored…He’s hit safely in 10 of the 14 games with multi-hit games in six of them.
• Meneses leads the Nationals with a .409 (9-for-22) average with runners in scoring position this year.
BULLPENNING
Since April 10, Ricky Bones’ bullpen leads the National League and is second in Major League Baseball in ERA (1.70)…They are also the best in the National League and third in Major League Baseball with a .190 opponents average over that span.
• In 12 games since April 10, Nationals relievers have allowed eight earned runs in 42.1 innings and have struck out 40…They have allowed just 28 hits and are the only bullpen in Major League Baseball to allow just one home run over that span.
• The Nationals rank fourth in Major League Baseball in Inherited Runners scoring percentage (9.5%)
since April 10…Just two of 21 inherited runners have scored in that span.
DEFENSE NOT RESTING
Thanks to strong infield defense so far this season, Nationals opponents have a .212 batting average on ground balls, fifth-best in the National League (tied for seventh best in MLB)…MLB avg: .239…In 2022, the Nationals had the third-highest opponents’ batting average on ground balls in Major League Baseball (.260).
• Washington has turned 26 double plays this season, good for a tie for second in Major League Baseball.
• Third baseman Jeimer Candelario is tied for second among National League third basemen in defensive runs saved (2), according to FanGraphs.com…He trails only Pittsburgh’s Ke’Bryan Hayes (6)
• Slick-fielding first baseman Dominic Smith is one of three National League first baseman to accumulate at least one defensive run saved along with Arizona’s Christian Walker and Pittsburgh’s Carlos Santana, per FanGraphs.com.
STARTING PITCHER – #1 MACKENZIE GORE
Left-handed starter was acquired by Washington at the 2022 Trade Deadline…Entered 2020 as the No. 6 prospect in all of baseball and 2021 as the No. 10 prospect, according to Baseball America …Was cited by Baseball America as having the “Best Fastball” in San Diego’s system entering the 2022 season and the “Best Slider” in 2021 and 2018…Was the 2017 Gatorade Male High School Athlete of the Year, just the second baseball player to win the award at the time (Dylan Bundy in 2011; Bobby Witt Jr. in 2019).
LAST START
Struck out a season-high seven hitters and allowed three runs on three hits in 6.0 innings at home against Baltimore…Suffered his first loss of the season.
vs. NEW YORK (NL)
Gore has never faced the Mets but has faced Tommy Pham five times, allowing two singles.
EARNING THE CAPITAL K IN MacKenzie
Gore has struck out at least six hitters in each of his four starts this season (21.0 IP/25 SO)…He is one of seven Nationals pitchers (2005-pres.) to strikeout 25 or more in his first four starts with the team, joining Patrick Corbin (33 SO in 2019), Max Scherzer (29 SO in 2015), Joe Ross (27 SO in 2015), Gio González (27 SO in 2012), Edwin Jackson (26 SO in 2012) and Reynoldo López (26 SO in 2016).
• Gore ranks sixth in the National League (14th in MLB) in strikeouts per nine innings with 10.71.
SWING AND A MISS
Gore ranks tied for ninth among all MLB left-handed pitchers with 55 swings and misses this season, according to MLB Statcast…On April 19 vs. Baltimore, he induced a career-high 18 swings and misses in 6.0 innings pitched.
EXTRA GOOD
Gore has only allowed two extra-base hit in his four starts this season, a home run to Ryan McMahon at Coors Field and a home run to Baltimore’s Adam Frazier at home (both hitters are left-handed)…He’s held opponents to a .292 slugging percentage.
WELCOME TO D.C.
Earned the win in his Nationals debut on April 2 vs. Atlanta…Allowed one earned run on three hits with six strikeouts and four walks.
• With the win, Gore became the seventh Nationals pitcher (2005-pres.) to win his debut with the team while allowing three hits or less in at least 5.0 innings of work, joining Edwin Jackson (2017), Ross Ohlendorf (2013), Collin Balestar (2008), Billy Traber (2006), Pedro Astacio (2006), Ryan Drese (2005)
NEW YORK METS NOTES:
METSCELLANEOUS: The Mets returned to action last night and fell to the Nationals, 5-0, last night…New York has lost three-straight games, which ties a season-high (also, April 3-5)…The last time the team lost four straight games was when they lost five straight from September 21-26, 2021…The Mets continue a seven-game homestand (1-0) against the Nationals (1-0) and Braves (four games).
CITI SLICKERS: The Mets are 4-3 at Citi Field this year…The team’s seven home games are the fewest in the major leagues…The team won 54 games at home last year…That was their highest total at Citi Field in franchise history…The last time the team won more than 50 games in New York was in 2000 when they went 55-26…Overall, the Mets went 54-27at Citi Field…The team’s .667 winning percentage was the fourth-highest in team history…Only the 1988 (56-24, .700), 2000 and 1986 teams (both 55-26, .679) had a better home winning percentage.
THE EAST IS A BEAST: The Mets are in a stretch of seven straight games against the National League East…Overall, the Mets are 5-3 against the division this season…New York went 50-26 against the East last year, including 26-11 at home.
CONNECT FOUR: Brett Baty is on a four-game hitting streak, batting .313 (5-16) with a run, a double, and an RBI in that span…This comes after he went 1-8 in his first three games with the club.
TO THE LEFT, TO THE LEFT: Brandon Nimmo is batting .387 (12-31) with four doubles and four walks against left-handed pitching this year…Pete
Alonso has hit .333 (10-30) with a double, five home runs and five walks against southpaws in 2023…Overall the Mets are 5-5 when facing a left-handed starter this year.
NICE TO D.C. YOU: The Mets take on the Washington Nationals for the first time this season…New York went 14-5 against D.C. last year including 7-2 at Citi Field…The Mets posted a 2.68 ERA against Washington in 2022, while batting .291/.366/.460…The team’s 2.68 ERA was the lowest against any team within the division.
KODAI SENGA:Has 25 strikeouts through his first four major league starts…The most by a Mets pitcher through his first four major league starts is 26 strikeouts by Tylor Megill (2021), Matt Harvey (2012) and Dwight Gooden (1984)…The only two Japanese pitchers with more strikeouts through their first four major league starts are: Masahiro Tanaka (35) and Kazuhisa Ishii (26)…Four Mets pitchers have won their first four major league decisions: Colin Holderman (2022), Steven Matz (2015), Vic Black (2013-2014) and Grant Roberts (2001-2002).
A HIT’S A HIT: The Mets have collected 34 infield hits this season, which is the second-most in the majors…Last year, the Mets collected 186 infield hits, which was the fifth-most in franchise history and the third-most in the majors in 2022.
WAR, WHAT IS IT GOOD FOR?: Brandon Nimmo is second in the major leagues with a 1.7 fWAR…Over the last 14 games, Nimmo is batting .421 (24-57) with 10 runs, five doubles, two home runs, 10 RBI, six walks, one steal with a .477 OBP and a .614 SLG…He has raised his batting average
from .192 to .349 in that span…The Wyoming native is second in the majors with a .456 OBP, fifth in batting average (.349) and is tied for 10th in the majors with 16 walks this season.
PHAM-TASTIC: Tommy Pham has played 17 career games against the Nationals and is a .397 (23-58) hitter with 19 runs, four doubles, three
home runs, 11 RBI, 10 walks with a .478 OBP and a .621 SLG…He has reached base in 10 straight games against Washington, batting .514 (18-
35) in that stretch that started on July 6, 2021.
WASHINGTON D.C., IT’S PARADISE TO ME: Jeff McNeil has hit .332/.394/.471 with 32 runs, 12 doubles, two triples, five home runs, 27 RBI and 20 walks in 64 games against the Nationals…Pete Alonso owns a .325/.418/.675 slashline with 44 runs, 16 doubles, a triple, 22 home runs, 49 RBI and 32 walks in 67 games against D.C…Alonso has 22 career home runs vs. Washington, fifth-most among active players…His 1.093 OPS against the Nats is the second-best among active players.
THE PEN IS MIGHTIER: The Mets relief staff has posted a 3.25 ERA (32 ER/88.2 IP) with 33 walks and 92 strikeouts in 24 games this season. Their 3.25 ERA ranks eighth in the majors and third in the National League.
WALK, DON’T STRIKE: The Mets are second in the majors with 101 walks this season…As a team, New York has struck out 180 times this season,
the fourth-fewest in the majors…Brandon Nimmo has drawn 16 walks and struck out just 12 times this season…Jeff McNeil has 13 walks and has also struck out only eight times.
GUESS WHO’S BACH?: Over the last eight games, Daniel Vogelbach is 7-20 (.350) with two runs, a double, a home run, five RBI, three walks with
a .435 OBP and a .550 SLG…He has posted a .407 OBP in 18 games this season, which is only behind Brandon Nimmo (.456) for the team lead.
BROTHERS IN ARMS: Together, Adam Ottavino and David Robertson have combined to post a 1.58 ERA (3 ER/17.1 IP) with five walks and 19
strikeouts…They have converted seven of eight save opportunities…They are one of six pairs of teammates who have each recorded multiple saves this season (also, Devin Williams and Bryse Wilson of the Brewers, Carlos Estévez and José Quijada of the Angels and Jason Foley and Alex Lang of the Tigers and Craig Kimbrel and José Alvarado of the Phillies and Duane Underwood Jr and David Bednar of the Pirates).
JEFF McHITS: Jeff McNeil had his eight-game on-base streak snapped last night…He is batting 394 (13-33) with six runs, two doubles, a home
run, three RBI, three walks with a .474 OBP and a .545 SLG since April 16…He has raised his batting average from .212 to .282 in that span and his OBP from .359 to .402.
APRIL, SHE WILL COME: Pete Alonso has become the first player in Mets history with 10 home runs before May 1…The last time a player hit 10+ home runs in his team’s first 21 games of a season was in 2019, when Christian Yelich (11), Cody Bellinger, Khris Davis and Eddie Rosario all
accomplished the feat.
Player HR Year Month
Gary Carter 13 1985 Sept/Oct
Dave Kingman 13 1975 July
Mike Piazza 11 1999 August
Tommie Agee 11 1970 June
Player HR Year Month
Lee Mazzilli 11 1980 July
Howard Johnson 11 1989 June
Pete Alonso 11 2019 Sept/Oct
16 Players 10
MOST HOME RUNS BY A MET IN A MONTH
APRIL SHOWERS: Alonso has 22 RBI this month (he had one RBI in March)…The franchise record for RBI in the month of April is 26 by Jeff Kent in 1994.
Rank Player HR GAMES
3rd Mike Piazza 220 972
4th Howard Johnson 192 1,154
5th Pete Alonso 156 554
6th Dave Kingman 154 664
7th Carlos Beltrán 149 839
Rank Player RBI GAMES
10th Keith Hernandez 468 880
11th Kevin McReynolds 456 787
12th Pete Alonso 403 554
13th Daniel Murphy 402 903
14th Rusty Staub 399 942
METS ALL-TIME LEADERS
FOR PETE’S SAKE: Pete Alonso is second in the major leagues with 10 home runs and is tied for fifth the majors with 23 RBI…He is tied for 11th with 18 runs scored and his .585 SLG and is 11th in the majors.
KING OF QUEENS: Pete Alonso has hit 66 home runs at Citi Field…That is tied with Michael Conforto for the second-most in the history of the ballpark…Only Lucas Duda (71) has hit more.
D-FENCE: The Mets have committed seven errors in 24 games this season, the second-fewest in the majors…The team’s .992 fielding percentage is the third-best in the majors.
KODAI SENGA RHP #34
2023 STATS: 3-0, 4.29 ERA
SENGA’S PITCH ARSENAL
Pitch Type Usage Rate vs. LHB vs. RHB Avg. Velocity
Four-Seam Fastball 42.3% 45.4% 39.5% 96.0 mph
Forkball 22.3% 25.3% 19.5% 83.9 mph
Sweeper 17.8% 7.5% 27.6% 82.1 mph
Cutter 17.5% 21.8% 13.5% 90.4 mph
LAST TIME OUT: Senga earned his third win in four starts at San Francisco on April 20…He allowed four runs on five hits, including two home runs, and recorded four walks and four strikeouts.
PUTTING THE K IN FORK: Senga’s “ghost fork” has accounted for 17 of his 25 strikeouts through three starts…The pitch has a 54 percent whiff rate and a 30 percent putaway rate…Opponents have managed just three hits in 25 at-bats ending with the forkball, a .120 batting average.
ALL I DO IS WIN: Tonight, Senga will look to become the second Mets starting pitcher ever to begin his career 4-0…Steven Matz holds the record, winning his first four career decisions…Senga is the only Japanese-born pitchers to start their career 3-0…Additionally, he is the fourth player in franchise history to earn the win in their first two career major league starts, joining Steven Matz, Mike Pelfrey and Gary Gentry…Additionally, he joins Kazuhisa Ishii, Hideki Irabu and Koji Uehara as the only Japanese-born pitchers to win each of their first two career major league starts.
MLB DEBUT NOTES: Senga became the 64th pitcher whose major league debut came in a start for the Mets…New York has had one pitcher make his MLB debut as a starter in each of the previous three seasons: José Butto in 2022, Tylor Megill in 2021 and David Peterson in 2020 (the Mets won each of those three games)…Senga allowed one run over 5.1 innings on three hits, three walks and eight strikeouts in his major league debut…His eight strikeouts were tied for the fourth-most by a Japanese-born pitcher in their major league debut and tied for the third-most by a Mets pitcher in their major league debut.
