New York Mets to Face Washington Nationals in Series Finale
The New York Mets are set to resume their rivalry against the Washington Nationals on Thursday at Nationals Park in Washington, D.C., concluding a gripping four-game series. The excitement has been building, especially after the Nationals mounted a comeback for a 7-5 victory over the Mets on Wednesday.
The Mets have showcased resilience with back-to-back 10-inning wins on Monday and Tuesday nights. Currently, they hold a .500 record, standing at 42-42, placing them in the third spot in the National League East. Their performance has been bolstered by securing 14 wins in their last 19 games, a testament to their growing confidence and strategic prowess.
The Nationals, meanwhile, are struggling to find their footing as they sit fourth in the National League East with a 40-46 record. Washington has faced a challenging stretch, losing seven of their last nine games. Despite this, Wednesday’s victory against New York signals they should not be underestimated.
Anticipation Builds for Pitching Matchup
All eyes will be on the mound as Jose Quintana is slated to pitch for the Mets. Quintana holds a season record of 3-5 with a 4.57 ERA. Importantly, he has not conceded more than three earned runs in any start since May 10, underscoring his consistency. In his recent outing against Houston, Quintana pitched four innings, allowing two earned runs, six hits, and three walks while striking out seven. His performance was instrumental in the Mets' 7-2 win against Houston.
On the other side, Jake Irvin will be pitching for the Nationals. Irvin’s season statistics display a record of 6-6 with a commendable 3.03 ERA. Notably, Irvin’s last game saw him pitching six innings against Tampa Bay, conceding just one earned run on one hit and three walks, with five strikeouts. This came on the heels of another strong performance against Colorado on June 23, where he struck out ten, allowed three hits, and one earned run over six innings.
Batter Spotlights: Nimmo and Abrams
For the Mets, Brandon Nimmo has been a standout performer. With a batting average of .248 for the season, Nimmo has accumulated 16 doubles, two triples, 13 home runs, 52 RBIs, and 54 runs scored. Remarkably, he has garnered hits in seven of the past ten games. His contributions were notable in the team's 10-5 loss to Houston on Sunday, where he went 3-for-4 with a double, a home run, and three RBIs. He followed this up by going 2-for-3 with a double, two RBIs, and a run scored in the 7-2 10-inning win on Tuesday.
Meanwhile, C.J. Abrams is making waves for the Nationals. With a batting average of .283, Abrams boasts 20 doubles, five triples, 13 home runs, 43 RBIs, and 53 runs scored over 78 games. His recent form has been impressive, with four multi-hit games in the past eight. Abrams delivered back-to-back three-hit performances against San Diego on June 24 and 25. In Tuesday’s loss to New York, he went 2-for-5 with an RBI, following up with a double and a home run in the 8-1 win at Tampa Bay on Saturday.
Key Game Details
With first pitch scheduled for 11:05 a.m. ET, the Mets are projected as slight favorites with a money line of -114, while the Nationals sit at -105. The run line places New York at -1.5 (+139), and the over/under for total runs is set at 9.
Heading into the final game, the Mets lead the all-time series 474-468, amplifying the stakes and historic rivalry. Both teams will need to harness their recent strengths and overcome their weaknesses to secure a win in this critical clash.