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Nats try to solve deGrom in rubber match with Mets

Aug 7, 2014 - 1:39 PM (SportsNetwork.com) - You may not know Jacob deGrom now. But if the right- hander continues on the path he's followed recently, you will.

DeGrom aims for a sixth consecutive victory on Thursday afternoon when the New York Mets visit the Washington Nationals for the third and final game of a three-game set at Nationals Park.

The five-start win streak has comprised 34 2/3 innings, in which deGrom has walked six batters, struck out 37 and maintained a 1.04 earned run average. A win on Thursday would make him the fourth rookie in franchise history to win six straight starts, and the first to do it since Jason Isringhausen in 1995.

The other two New York pitchers to manage it: Dwight Gooden and Ron Darling.

The National League's rookie of the month in July, deGrom has the third-lowest ERA when lined up against other rookies who've started at least 10 games. In his last outing on Saturday, deGrom gave up two runs in a 4-2 win after taking a no-hitter into the seventh inning.

"I've had a little bit of success up here," he said. "I feel like if I go out there and pitch like I have been, that I can pitch here."

He has never faced the Nationals, who lead the NL East by four games after they beat the Mets, 7-1, on Wednesday and the Braves lost. Washington meets Atlanta for a three-game series this weekend.

"There's no reason to see what anybody else is doing because we're trying to take care of our business," Nationals manager Matt Williams said. "If we win today, the position that we're in, there can't be any movement."

Jordan Zimmermann takes the mound after beating Philadelphia, 11-0, in his last start on Saturday, in which he struck out eight, walked none and allowed five hits.

He's won two straight starts against the Mets, including a 6-3 triumph on May 18 in which he pitched six innings and allowed three runs.






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