Mets vs. Nationals Preview: Game #91 — Chris Young vs. Jordan Zimmermann

Today's game notes, courtesy of @Mets.

Teams: Mets vs. Nationals
Date: Wednesday, July 18, 2012 • 7:05 p.m
Location: Nationals Park • Washington, D.C.
Starters: RHP Chris Young (2-3, 4.28) vs. RHP Jordan Zimmermann (6-6, 2.48)
TV/Radio: SNY • ESPN • WFAN • WQBU
Info: Game #91 • Road Game #45

Starting Lineup

Ruben Tejada — SS
Daniel Murphy — 2B
David Wright — 3B
Ike Davis — 1B
Lucas Duda — RF
Jason Bay — LF
Andres Torres — CF
Josh Thole — C
Chris Young — RHP

LAST START: Chris Young lost his second straight start on June 13 in the Mets’ 7-5 defeat at Atlanta...Pitched 3.0 innings in his shortest outing since June 14, 2009 and allowed a season-high five runs, earned, six hits, one home run, and a season high-tying three walks...Struck out a season low-tying two...The start snapped a four-game quality start streak.

LAST SEASON: In four games, all starts, Young went 1-0 with a 1.88 ERA (five earned runs/24.0 innings pitched)...Was placed on the 15-Day Disabled List on May 8, 2011 with shoulder tightness...Spent part of April 2011 on the 15-Day Disabled List with right biceps tendinitis...Had season-ending surgery on May 17 to repair a tear of the anterior capsule in his throwing shoulder...Young tried to rehab from the same injury during the 2010 season...Mets lefthander Johan Santana missed the entire 2011 season with the same injury...Team doctor David Altchek performed both Santana’s and Young’s surgeries.

YOUNG AND ZIMMERMANN: The two matched up against each other as starters on June 5 at Nationals Park in a 7-6 Mets loss...Young took a no-decision in his season debut and pitched 5.0 innings, allowing three runs, two earned, six hits, and one walk while striking out two...Zimmermann also received a no-decision and pitched 6.0 innings, allowing two runs, earned, five hits, two home runs, and no walks while striking out five...The two righthanders have started against each other twice, the first time coming on April 26, 2011 in a 6-4 Mets win...Young received a no-decision in that game while Zimmermann took the loss.

THIRD TIME THROUGH: Opposing batters are hitting .368 (14-38) the third time they face Young in a game this season, .533 (8-15) in the seventh inning or later, and .600 (6-10) in late-and-close situations...For his career, Young has held opposing hitters to a .225 batting average when facing them for the third time in a game, but they have hit .260 against him in late-and-close situations.

STRIKEOUTS AND WALKS: Young is averaging 5.2 strikeouts and 2.5 walks per nine innings (a 2.08 strikeout-to-walk ratio) this season, both down from his career averages of 7.7 strikeouts and 3.5 walks per nine innings (a 2.22 strikeout-to-walk ratio).

FINISHING INNINGS: With two outs in an inning this season, opposing batters are hitting .178 (8-45) against Young, but batters are hitting .315 (17-54) against him with one out in an inning and .328 (20-61) against him with no outs in an inning.

PITCHES PER INNING: Young’s career pitches per inning average of 16.9 (13,808 pitches/815.2 innings) is third-highest among active pitchers who have started a game since 2002 and have thrown at least 800.0 career innings...Young is averaging 15.6 pitches per inning (622 pitches/40.0 innings) this season.

GROUND BALL/FLY BALL RATIO: Among pitchers who began their careers after the stat began to be kept in 1987 and have made at least 25 starts, Young has the lowest ground ball/fly ball ratio at 0.55 (654 ground balls/1184 fly balls)...This season, Young has a ground ball/fly ball ratio of 0.51 (38 ground balls/74 fly balls), which is lowest among starters with at least 25.0 innings pitched...For his career, Young has gotten 33 ground ball double plays in 511 possible situations (6.5%)...The 33 total GIDP and 6.5% are both fewest in the majors among active pitchers with at least 100 career starts.

STOLEN BASE PERCENTAGE: Since 1974, no pitcher with at least 40 career starts has had bases stolen against him at a higher rate than Young...Base stealers have been successful against Young on 90.9 percent of their attempts (149 steals on 164 attempts)...This season, attempting base stealers are .857 (6-7) against Young.

OPPONENT BATTING AVERAGE: Ranks second to the Dodgers’ Clayton Kershaw among active pitchers who have made at least 50 career starts with an opponent batting average of .222...Young’s opponent batting average this season is .281.