The Mets will be playing the Nationals tonight as they finally return home after a long home trip where it seemed that everyone got injured and the Mets were still able to get out of the trip 5-5 while facing three very good teams. Tonight the Mets will be facing the best pitcher the Nationals have to offer in the form of John Lannan and the Mets will be sending John Maine to face him.

Lannan is 2-3 over 9 games and 52.0 IP and a 3.63 ERA. Over his last three games, he has pitched 18.2 IP and he has a 1.93 ERA, which is very good. With all of his performances considered, it becomes pretty clear that his record is the result of the Nats bats and more over, the Nats pen. In four games against the Mets last year Lannan pitched 22.0 innings and he allowed 11 runs, 5 BB and 22 K. Here are some Mets stats against Lannan:
     Wright 4-15, 2 2B
      Beltran 2-10, 2B
      Tatis 2-5, 2B
      Maine 1-2, 2B
The key for the Mets is to some how, whether its hitting Lannan hard or taking a lot of pitches, need to get him out of the game early because they want to get to that Nats bullpen and do damage there.

Maine is 3-3 on the season with a 4.53 ERA over 45.2 IP and in his last three games he has pitched 18.0 IP and has a 3.50 ERA. He was 3-0 in as many games against the Nationals last year over 17.2 IP with a very nice 1.53 ERA, 9 BB, and 15 K. Maine likes to pitch agaisnt this Washington club. Here are some Nats batting numbers against the Maine Event:
     Zimmerman 4-27, 2B, HR
     Kearns 5-17, 2B
     Belliard 9-15, 2B, HR
     Johnson 2-12, HR
     Guzman 0-8
Remember that series against the Pirates? Well this is the same thing. The Mets need to beat the Nats because they are supposed to beat them and they must in order to keep pace with the Phillies. Lets Go Mets! Beat the Nats!