New York Mets vs. Washington Nationals Pregame

Here are the lineups for tonights Mets vs. Nationals game and some notes.  The Mets are 3-0 and riding a wave of enthusiasm and good momentum.  Will they be able to keep it up?  We will see but through the first three games they have looked good.  They were playing an Atlanta team that just can't score runs but it was still an impressive weekend.  I think the Mets more then anyone needed to get off to a good start and they have so far. 

Mets Lineup:Ruben Tejada, Daniel Murphy, David Wright, Ike Davis, Jason Bay, Lucas Duda, Josh Thole, Kirk Niewenhuis, Mike Pelfrey

Nats Lineup:Ian Desmond, Danny Espinosa, Ryan Zimmerman, Adam LaRoche, Jayson Werth, Mark DeRosa, Roger Bernadina, Jesus Flores, Edwin Jackson

Andres Torres has made no progress with his strained calf and needs at least two more weeks rest with it according to Mets manager Terry Collins.  Collins also said he has to keep a close eye on Francisco who saved all three games so far and is still experiencing some knee pain.  He stated if Francisco or Jon Rauch couldn't close then Miguel Batista would be the closer. 

Collins said Ike Davis would be off tomorrow with the left handed starter and Justin Turner would play first base.  Pelfrey starts tonight for the Mets.  He is making his first start of the year.  In his last two spring starts he allowed two runs in 10 1/3 innings pitched.  Pelfrey is 19-13 at Citi Field with a 3.44 ERA in 51 career games there.  Jackson will start for the Nationals and in 31 starts last year with the Cardinals and White Sox he was 12-9 with a 3.79 ERA.  He faced the Mets once last year and allowed five runs on nine hits with four walks in five innings. 

According to the Elias Sports Bureau the last time the Mets had eight of nine homegrown starters in their lineup not counting August or September was April 19, 1990 against the Cubs.  The names in that lineup were Gregg Jefferies, Darryl Strawberry, Dave Magadan, Kevin Elster and Dwight Gooden.  Those are the most recognizable names.