Mets vs. Nationals recap: Another loss makes Mets’ bad week worse

These aren’t the Mets game you’re looking for.

Although they had Nationals starter Gio Gonzalez on the ropes in the first inning thanks to a couple of walks, the Mets didn’t capitalize, took until the sixth inning to get a hit, and scored just one run in the game. And while Jacob deGrom was by no means awful, he was human, as he gave up three runs on eight hits and six walks in five-and-two-thirds innings.

That deGrom made the start at all was encouraging since he was scratched from doing so on Friday night because of a stiff neck. The walks were very uncharacteristic, but if that line sounds a little crazy given the combination of hits and walks, well, he limited the damage with ten strikeouts. That leaves him with a rate of 11.56 strikeouts per nine innings on the season, which is incredibly high even for him.

It’s tough to hang on to that positive, though, after a week in which the Mets lost the grand majority of their games. It’s still really early in the season, and there’s a long way to go before anything is determined. But right now, the banged-up Mets could use a win in the worst way in their Sunday night series finale against Washington.

They’re 8-10 now, four-and-a-half games back of the Nationals. Even looking at the standings this early in the year feels a little silly, but the games all count just the same. And it’s not even really about the standings right now. The Mets could just use a win so they can go into their off day on Monday and three-game series with the Braves this week with a different tone.

SB Nation GameThreads

Amazin’ Avenue
Federal Baseball

Box scores

ESPN
MLB

Win Probability Added

FanGraphs

What’s WPA?

Big winners: none
Big losers: Neil Walker, -11.9% WPA, Jacob deGrom, -11.6% WPA
Teh aw3s0mest play: Asdrubal Cabrera singles to drive in the Mets’ only run of the game in the sixth, +10.9% WPA
Teh sux0rest play: Trea Turner doubles to plate the Nationals’ second run of the game in the fifth, -11.2% WPA
Total pitcher WPA: -2.9% WPA
Total batter WPA: -47.1% WPA
GWRBI!: Trea Turner