Wire Taps: Washington Nationals In New York To Take On Matt Harvey And The Mets

Stephen Strasburg vs Matt Harvey. Strasburg vs Harvey. The battle of the 24-year-olds. The Phenom vs the Next Big Thing. There aren't too many local links this morning with reporters traveling from Miami to Flushing, Queens over the last two days to get ready for tonight's matchup, but everything you read today will likely be about the pitching matchup in Citi Field tonight where Strasburg and Harvey meet in an early season marquee pitching battle. Can Strasburg get a handle on his command? Will the Nats be able to hit the so-far relatively-unhittable Harvey? Tons of links on the matchup to follow. Let's get right to them. Links and lots of them, starting... RIGHT NOW!!:

• THE BIG STORY:

• "New York's Matt Harvey will bring those weapons and lots of industry buzz to the mound Friday night at Citi Field when he faces Stephen Strasburg in a pitching matchup that has 'big walk-up crowd' written all over it." - "The rise of New York Mets flamethrower Matt Harvey" - Jerry Crasnick, ESPN

• NATS BEAT:

• "The Nationals’ 19 games against the Mets this season, the first of which comes tonight in New York, were envisioned as 19 chances to show their superiority." - "Stephen Strasburg vs. Matt Harvey highlights Nationals-Mets series" - Adam Kilgore, Washington Post

• "The two pitchers have crossed paths once, enough for a quick introduction by way of their shared representation, but they don’t really know each other." - "Stephen Strasburg, Matt Harvey offer marquee matchup of power arms" - Amanda Comak, Washington Times

• "The 24-year-old [Matt] Harvey might have just 13 career starts under his belt, but he's already making quite an impression in the big leagues." - "Nationals Pastime: A sweet Friday night matchup" - Dan Kolko, MASNSports.com

• "Tonight, we get to see these two premier young hurlers go head-to-head, with [Stephen] Strasburg and [Matt] Harvey drawing the starting assignments for the opener of a weekend series at Citi Field." - "Premier matchup tonight in New York" - NatsInsider.com

• "The Mets host the Nationals this weekend and baseball eyes are turning toward Citi Field. Friday’s series opener features Stephen Strasburg and Matt Harvey, two of the most exciting young arms in the major leagues." - "All eyes on Stephen Strasburg and Matt Harvey" - Harry Pavlidis, Washington Post

• "Washington's Stephen Strasburg and New York's Matt Harvey will tangle in a matchup of 24-year-old right-handed fireballers who both possess overpowering stuff and the hype to go with it." - "Washington Nationals at New York Mets - April 19, 2013" - Andrew Simon, MLB.com Preview

• "It is three starts into the season, so let's not get ahead of ourselves here. But the Nationals have to love what they've seen so far from starter Ross Detwiler." - "Ross Detwiler shows Nationals what he's got" - Brian McNally, WashingtonExaminer.com

• "Ryan Zimmerman can’t throw! The bullpen is a mess! Dan Haren was a terrible signing! Stephen Strasburg and Gio Gonzalez have only won one game each!" - "Nationals have some issues, but it's way too early to panic" - Mike Harris, Washington Times

• "Right now, anyone watching the Washington Nationals is itching for answers. I’ve seldom seen a high-quality team that also has so many fascinating early-season questions." - "Washington Nationals: what to worry about and what not to" - Thomas Boswell, The Washington Post

• NATIONAL(S) BEAT:

• "The Washington Nationals have demonstrated an exceptional ability to mold pitchers who perform at the major-league level." - "Raising Aces: Trending: National Grade" - Doug Thorburn, Baseball Prospectus

• "Mike Hinckley has been humbled. Four years ago, the former Moore baseball standout was in the majors, pitching for the Washington Nationals on perfectly manicured mounds." - "Former Washington Nationals pitcher Mike Hinckley couldn't be happier in first year as Capitol Hill coach" - Ryan Aber, News OK

• "Is Washington’s Davey Johnson Cursed?" - Kyle Phillippi

• "Matt Harvey and the Mets face [Stephen] Strasburg tonight for the first time in 2013. Strasburg is 2-0, 1.50 in his career against the Mets, both of those wins coming last season at Citi Field, where he struck out 20 and walked three in 13 innings." - "Nationals have taken the wraps off Stephen Strasburg" - Seth Livingstone, New York Newsday

• NATS MINORS:

• Class-A Hagerstown: Hagerstown 7; West Virginia - 4: Tony Renda - 1 for 4, 1 R; Wander Ramos - 1 for 3 - MiLB.com Scoreboard

• "Suns left-handers Brett Mooneyham and [Bryan] Harper have both been placed on the disabled list. Right-handers Cody Davis and Christopher McKenzie have been called up from extended spring training." - "Nationals update minor league standouts for month of April (plus injury updates)" - Byron Kerr, MASNSports.com

• Class-A Potomac: "Even with his hot start, Jason Martinson is still looking for ways to improve. The Nationals' No. 20 prospect was 2-for-6 with a homer and four RBIs as Class A Advanced Potomac came up short against Frederick, 9-8, in 12 innings on Thursday." - "Potomac's Martinson stays on roll" - Robert Emrich, MiLB.com News

• Class-A Potomac: "Amidst swirling winds at Pfitzner Stadium, the Potomac Nationals (6-7, 2-5) and Frederick Keys (8-5, 3-1) engaged in an extra inning seesaw slugfest that lasted three hours and 40 minutes and took 12 innings to decide..." - "Keys DH de San Miguel Swats Multiple Home Runs to Carry Frederick Over the P-Nats in Extra Innings" - Potomac Nationals News

• Double-A Harrisburg: "Sean Nicol delivered a clutch pinch hit two-run single to highlight a four-run sixth, as the Harrisburg Senators defeated the Altoona Curve 5-4, surviving a late rally." - "Four-Run Sixth Gives Sens 5-4 Win" - Marshall Kelner, Harrisburg Senators News

• Triple-A Syracuse: "The Syracuse Chiefs, the Triple-A affiliate of the Washington Nationals, were outslugged on Thursday afternoon in a 27-9 loss to the Buffalo Bisons." - "Bisons outslug Chiefs in series finale" - Syracuse Chiefs News

• "The nine innings played on the windswept afternoon of April 18, 2013 at NBT Bank Stadium were historic." - "Chiefs on wrong end of Buffalo Bisons history (Video)" - Ben Meyers, The Auburn Citizen

• VIDEO: Triple-A Syracuse -

• "Catching Up On Transactions" - Luke Erickson, NationalsProspects.com

• "First baseman Chris Marrero has come on strong as of late with a home run, three RBI, and three walks over the last week." - "Nats Minor League Report-4/18" - Chase Hughes, NatsInsider.com

• NATSTOWN:

• "If the measure of an ace is their ability to come in and completely dominate a game for his team when they need it most, then Ross Detwiler was certainly the Nats’ ace last night." - "IN ROSS WE TRUST" - William Yoder, The Nats Blog

• "Detwiler ERA challenge!" - Harper, Nationals Baseball

• "Nats Game Logs on this Date" - Mark Hornbaker, D.C. Baseball History

• "That Ball Is Gone!" - Matt's Bats

• "2013 Nats vs. Mets Q&A with Eric McErlain" - William F. Yurasko, William World News

• "Bryce Harper’s game-worn opening day jersey was auctioned off, and the Nats slugger is not happy about it." - "Bryce Harper upset at the sale of his opening day jersey" - Sarah Kogod, Washington Post

• NL EAST UPDATES:

• Mets: "The months since have brought no reduction in drama or flair, introducing [Matt] Harvey to America as one of the most promising young pitchers in the game — and Friday's matchup at Citi Field against Washington's Stephen Strasburg will only increase his profile." - "Matt Harvey's first impressions: An oral history; Yankees' Derek Jeter and NY Mets Travis d'Arnaud injured" - Andy Martino, New York Daily News

• Braves: "B.J. Upton on team lift with his leadoff homer: 'That’s the goal every day. I think both sides pitched pretty well. Again we come up with some timely hits and put together a pretty good inning.'" - "Braves quotes after Thursday’s 6-4 win over Pirates" - Carroll Rogers, www.ajc.com

• Phillies: "The Phillies (6-10) have lost four in a row. They had 13 hits but failed to draw a walk for the fourth consecutive game." - "Cardinals deal Phillies their fourth straight loss" - Marc Narducci, Philadelphia Inquirer

• Marlins: "After coughing up four runs on four hits and a walk — by far the worst inning of his brief major-league career — [Jose] Fernandez trudged across the foul line as if lead weights were attached to his ankles." - "CINCINNATI: Jose Fernandez gets lit up in Miami Marlins’ loss to Reds" - Clark Spencer, MiamiHerald.com