The Washington Nationals will play the New York Mets for the final time in 2011 and they will leave the Big Apple happy to know that win or lose Wednesday night they will have won the season series finale by taking two close consecutive games the previous nights. However, the Nats would love to make a statement by sweeping the floundering Mets in their own stadium. A sweep would continue to mark Washington as not easy push overs as in season's past and move them up closer to the Mets in the standings and third place in the NL East.
Nationals rookie pitcher Brad Peacock (0-0, 6.75 ERA) has been tagged to get the start for the Nationals. It will be his first Major League start. Peacock made his Major League debut in a relief role on Sept. 6th against the Los Angeles Dodgers and was put in a tight position to start off his career. His first time on a big league mound saw him with two men on and facing Matt Kemp. Peacock ended up with a blown save and a lot of fans grumbling at manager Davey Johnson that it was a bit unfair to have a pitcher start off his career in that fashion.
Peacock, recently named the Nationals Minor League Pitcher of the Year, will look to put it all behind him and move into a more comfortable position: that of a MLB starter. The 23-year old had a 15-3 record, 2.39 ERA and 177 strikeouts in 25 combined games between Double-A Harrisburg and Triple-A Syracuse. Peacock's first opponent will be New York's Mike Pelfrey (7-11, 4.66 ERA).
Peacock and the Nationals go after the sweep of the Mets at 7:10 P.M.
Nationals Line-Up
Ian Desmond - SS
Rick Ankiel - CF
Ryan Zimmerman - 3B
Michael Morse - LF
Jayson Werth -RF
Danny Espinosa - 2B
Chris Marrero - 1B
Jesus Flores - C
Brad Peacock - SP