Starting Pitching: Stephen Strasburg, Max Scherzer, Gio Gonzalez, Joe Ross and Jordan Zimmernn vs Jacob deGrom, Matt Harvey, Noah Syndergaard, Jonathan Niese and Bartolo Colon
- Edge: Mets
This is where the comparison becomes very interesting.
Both teams have a solid starting five loaded with power arms. For the Nationals, the emergence of Joe Ross (3.86 ERA) has moved Doug Fister to the bullpen. Ross has struggled of late and has seen his ERA balloon up an entire run over his past two starts. Strasburg’s numbers are bit misleading as he has been a better pitcher over his past six starts, albeit with a DL stint in between. So his health could be a concern the rest of the way. Scherzer, the gem of the off season and the ace of the staff has not disappointed with a 2.73 ERA and a microscopic WHIP of .90. Gio Gonzalez is probably the weakest starter at this point. But even he is capable of shutting a team down during any start.
The Mets have five solid starters. deGrom and Harvey have seemed to have found it. The dynamic duo has given up two or fewer runs in a combined 33 starts this season. That is pitching.
Syndergaard has also pitched well. The second piece in the R.A. Dickey deal, Syndergaard has an ERA in the low 3’s. It will be interesting to see how he finished down the stretch. There is speculation he winds up in the pen for the post season. Niese and Colon, have each had ups and downs. With those ups and downs, the two of them still make up a solid four and five.
Both teams have phenomenal starting pitching, but is there a GM in baseball that would not take the Mets staff? And when Steven Matz returns the Mets staff may actually get better.
