Washington Nationals vs New York Mets: Grapefruit League GameThread - Erick Fedde vs NYM...

Erick Fedde faced the New York Mets in his first start and fourth appearance of the Spring back on March 11th, giving up three hits in three scoreless innings in Port St. Lucie, Florida’s First Data Field.

He followed that outing up with a 1 ²⁄₃ inning start against the Miami Marlins in which he allowed four hits, three walks and five earned runs, throwing 51 pitches, just 26 for strikes.

Washington’s 2014 1st Round pick told reporters after the Nationals’ 5-5 tie with the Fish that day that he just let things get away from him on the mound.

“I think I just kind of let the game speed up,” Fedde said, as quoted by the Washington Post’s Chelsea Janes.

“My fastball command was bad, and that just kind of led to the hitters staying off of everything else.”

Fedde and Nationals’ skipper Dusty Baker chalked it up to inexperience and his lack of knowledge about the hitters he was facing when he ran into trouble.

“He was barely missing with all his pitches, and when he got behind, he didn’t know those hitters, but they’ve got a good-hitting club.”

Fedde faces the Mets for the second time in Grapefruit League action this afternoon when the Nats welcome their NL East rivals to West Palm Beach, Florida’s Ballpark of the Palm Beaches.

The 24-year-old right-hander finished his 2016 campaign at Double-A Harrisburg in the Nats’ system, where he was (2-1) with a 3.99 ERA, a 3.02 FIP, 10 walks (3.07 BB/9) and 28 Ks (8.59 K/9) in 29 1⁄3 IP, after going (6-4) with a 2.85 ERA, a 3.22 FIP, 19 walks (1.87 BB/9) and 95 Ks (9.33 K/9) in 91 2⁄3 innings pitched at High-A Potomac.

Here’s the lineup that will back Fedde up in this afternoon’s matchup:

NOTE: This afternoon’s game is available on MASN in the nation’s capital at 1:05 PM EDT.