Blown saves hurting Mets
The Mets' bullpen was an imperfect 3 for 3 against San Francisco over the weekend. That is to say their relievers blew three straight save opportunities, causing the Mets to ultimately lose two of those games. With seven blown saves this season, the Mets' bullpen has the fifth-worst record in baseball in that category. In the past six games, Mets relievers have surrendered six home runs.
If it comes down to late-game heroics by the bullpen in the three-game series against Washington that begins tonight at Citi Field, the Nationals figure to have the edge. Closer Matt Capps is a perfect 13 for 13 in save opportunities and has a 0.98 ERA. Tyler Clippard has six saves and an even better 0.76 ERA.
So far this season, home field has been a big advantage for the Mets, who are 6-0 in series openers. They are 11-2 in their past 13 games at Citi Field with a .255 batting average and 2.91 ERA. On the road, they are hitting .214 with a 4.60 ERA.
The Mets and Washington both utilize speed as part of their attack. They are tield for the MLB lead with 12 triples each. The Mets have 11 triples in the friendly confines of Citi Field, which is five more than any other team has at home.
Washington's 17-14 record, which has them tied for second in the NL East with the Mets, matches the Nationals' best-ever mark at this stage. But they're facing Mets starter John Maine, whose eight career wins against the Nats are his most against any team. In his past three starts, Maine has held opponents to a .207 batting average.
