Nationals vs. Mets
New York, NY – Jose Reyes’ return to action didn’t go exactly as planned for the New York Mets.
They’ll have another advantage as they play the decisive finale of a three-game set with the Washington Nationals.
Ace Johan Santana will try to build on a strong opening day outing and extend his five-start winning streak against Washington on Sunday at Citi Field, where the Mets hope to salvage a 3-3 finish to their season-opening homestand.
Oddsmakers from online sports book SBGGLOBAL.com have made the Mets –230 money line favorites for Sunday’s game against the Nationals. Current MLB Public Betting Information shows that 95% of more than 600 bets for this game have been placed on the Mets -230.
After he was limited to 36 games last season due to a hamstring injury, Reyes’ 2010 debut was delayed due to a thyroid problem, but he finally led off for New York on Saturday.
The two-time All-Star went 1 for 4 with an error at shortstop in a 4-3 loss to the Nationals, admitting that he was "a little anxious" in his first major league appearance since May 20.
"There was a lot of nervous energy today, but Jose will settle in," Mets manager Jerry Manuel said. "It’s no problem for Jose, he’ll get into the rhythm just like everybody else. That’s how athletic he is. He’s athletic enough to catch up with the speed."
The Mets (2-3) won the series opener 8-2 on Friday night but left 12 men on base in Saturday’s defeat, stranding the bases loaded in the bottom of the ninth.
The club dropped the final two games of its season-opening series against Florida, but New York has to like its chances of taking Sunday’s finale with Santana (1-0, 1.50 ERA) on the mound.
The two-time Cy Young Award winner has won all five of his starts against Washington since joining the Mets in 2008, compiling a 2.73 ERA and 39 strikeouts in 33 innings in that stretch.
After recovering from Sept. 1 elbow surgery, Santana looked sharp on Monday, holding the Marlins to four hits and a run in six innings of a 7-1 victory.
"It felt pretty good," Santana said. "We worked over spring training, waiting for this day for many months and finally to have a chance to go out there and do it felt pretty good."
Santana may face a Washington lineup without slugger Ryan Zimmerman, who left Saturday’s game in the sixth inning with a hamstring problem.
The Nationals (2-3) got an offensive boost from an unlikely source, as Willy Taveras drove in all four of the team’s runs with a triple and a single. Taveras has already been traded by Cincinnati and released by Oakland in 2010, and this was his first start with Washington.
"I don’t take anything personally. I’m glad I’m here," Taveras said. "Every day, I’m just trying to do my best. Anything you can do to help the team win games."
Right-hander Livan Hernandez (9-12, 5.44) will try to help the Nationals in his season debut Sunday as he makes his first start against the Mets since they released him last August. He signed with Washington and went 2-4 with a 5.36 ERA in eight starts to close the season.
It had been uncertain whether the 35-year-old would make the Nationals’ roster this year when he signed a minor league deal Feb. 24.
"I came to spring training knowing I could still pitch and help the team win," Hernandez told MLB’s official Web site.
A win would give the Nationals their first series victory at Citi Field, where Washington went 2-7 last year.
Posted: 4/10/2010 11:07 PM ET