Meet the Mets
The Mets couldn't score a run last night and lost to the Nationals. Although he gave up nine hits and walked one, Jon Niese only gave up one run, and Carlos Torres pitched two perfect innings in relief. The Mets had some chances to score, too, but made a few bad baserunning decisions in the loss. So the Mets have a three-and-a-half game lead in the National League East and will attempt to split their four-game series with the Nationals this afternoon at Citi Field before an off day tomorrow.
Choose your recap: Amazin' Avenue long, short, New York Times, Faith and Fear in Flushing, Star-Ledger, New York Daily News, The Record, ESPN New York, New York Post, or Newsday.
Brian Sabean of the Giants is reportedly in town, presumably doing some first-hand scouting of players the Giants might target in a trade. The Mets' Jon Niese, Dillon Gee, and Daniel Murphy could all be fits for San Francisco.
After striking out in all four of his plate appearances and making an error on Friday night, Wilmer Flores got yesterday off and might get today off, too, for a bit of a mental break. The 23-year-old has really struggled in the field all season and also at the plate lately.
Jeurys Familia has been dominant this year, which has been a pleasant surprise. Not that anyone expected him to be awful or anything, but he looks like a different pitcher from the one who did pretty well last year.
Tim Rohan writes that Juan Lagares might be on his way to stardom. He's probably going to have to do more with the bat for that to happen, though.
Around the National League East
The Marlins trounced the Phillies and are now 12-12 on the season. The Braves lost, though, and fell to 11-13 in the process.
Around Major League Baseball
Two games ended on baserunners hit by batted balls last night. It's an oddity for that to happen once, never mind twice.
Grant Brisbee takes a look at some teams that might definitely be good or bad based on the first month of the season.
The Yankees say they will not pay Alex Rodrigues his bonus for hitting the 660th home run of his career.
This date in Mets history
On this date in Mets history, David Cone tossed his first career shutout.