The New York Mets are set to face the Washington Nationals in the final game of a four-game series at Nationals Park in Washington, D.C., on Thursday. Both teams are vying for crucial wins as they navigate through the National League East standings. The Mets, holding a .500 record at 42-42, are positioned third in the division and have shown a recent streak of prowess with 14 wins in their last 19 games. Conversely, the Nationals, with a 40-46 record, find themselves in the fourth spot, struggling with seven losses in their last nine outings.
Wednesday's game saw the Nationals rally to secure a 7-5 victory over the Mets, which added more significance to Thursday’s matchup. The Mets had emerged victorious in back-to-back 10-inning games on the two preceding nights, highlighting their resilience and competitive edge.
Pitching Performances Expected to Shine
The Mets will entrust Jose Quintana with the ball. Quintana, holding a season record of 3-5 with a 4.57 ERA, has been a reliable figure on the mound. Remarkably, he hasn't conceded more than three earned runs since May 10. In his latest outing against Houston, Quintana delivered a solid performance, allowing two earned runs over four innings, contributing to a 7-2 win for the Mets.
Opposing Quintana will be Jake Irvin for the Nationals. With a 6-6 record and a commendable 3.03 ERA, Irvin has been a bright spot for Washington’s pitching rotation. His recent performances include a resilient outing against Tampa Bay, where he pitched six innings, giving up just one earned run on one hit while striking out five. Another notable performance saw him striking out ten over six innings against Colorado on June 23.
The duel between Quintana and Irvin promises to be a captivating one, with both pitchers aiming to give their teams a critical edge in this tightly contested series.
Key Players to Watch
For the Mets, Brandon Nimmo has been a pivotal player. Although his batting average stands at .248 for the season, Nimmo has shown consistent offensive capabilities, with 16 doubles, two triples, 13 home runs, 52 RBIs, and 54 runs scored. Over the past ten games, Nimmo has gathered hits in seven of them, underlining his form. Notably, in Sunday’s 10-5 loss to Houston, he went 3-for-4 with a double, a home run, and three RBIs. His performance on Tuesday's 7-2 10-inning win was equally impressive, going 2-for-3 with a double, two RBIs, and a run scored.
Washington’s C.J. Abrams has also made significant contributions this season with a .283 batting average. Displaying his versatility and consistency, Abrams has accumulated 20 doubles, five triples, 13 home runs, 43 RBIs, and 53 runs scored over 78 games. His recent form includes four multi-hit games in the last eight encounters, with back-to-back three-hit performances against San Diego on June 24 and 25. Abrams continues to be a formidable presence at the plate, highlighted by his 2-for-5 outing with an RBI in Tuesday’s loss to New York, and his performance in the 8-1 win against Tampa Bay on Saturday where he notched a double and a home run.
Game Odds and Historic Rivalry
As the teams prepare for the series finale, the Mets are slight favorites with a money line of -114, while the Nationals' money line is set at -105. The run line positions New York at -1.5 (+139), with the over/under for total runs established at 9. Historically, the Mets lead the all-time series against the Nationals 474-468, emphasizing the close competition these teams have shared over the years.
With the first pitch scheduled for 11:05 a.m. ET, fans can expect an engaging and potentially game-defining clash as both teams strive to solidify their positions within the division.