That lineup has shown some life lately. New York won the first 2 at Texas, including a 6-3 win in the opener where Sean Manaea struck out 9 over 6 innings, then managed 1 run in a 3-1 loss to finish the trip. It's also a clubhouse that has had Andy Green running it since Carlos Mendoza was fired in late June, and Green now has a 3-year deal to keep the job, so these last 3 games double as the first look at next year's version.
Washington comes in having won 2 straight, both in Detroit, 3-1 and 4-2, on pitching that kept the Tigers quiet. Before that the Nationals split 2 in St. Louis, and in the win Alvarez held the Cardinals scoreless for 6 innings and the offense still needed to score 8 to survive the bullpen. That pattern is worth watching tonight. Starting pitching has been Washington's strength lately, and the late innings haven't matched it.
The injury lists run long on both sides, and most of that is relievers. Washington is without PJ Poulin, Orlando Ribalta, Matt Waldron and Mitchell Parker. The one name worth circling is Connelly Early. Nationals president of baseball operations Paul Toboni has him tentatively lined up to make his team debut against the Mets on September 26. That's the next game of this series, not this one, but it means Washington's bullpen could be managed with Saturday in mind.
- 7-Day ILJared Young (1B) — The Mets placed Young on the 7-day concussion injured list Friday.09/18
- 15-Day-ILChristian Scott (SP) — The Mets placed Scott on the 15-day injured list Tuesday with left knee inflammation.09/22
- 15-Day-ILDaniel Duarte (RP) — The Mets placed Duarte on the 15-day injured list Wednesday with a left hamstring strain.09/16
- 15-Day-ILRobert Stock (RP) — The Mets placed Stock on the 15-day injured list Wednesday with numbness in his fingers.09/16
- 60-Day-ILJorge Polanco (DH) — The Mets transferred Polanco (ankle) to the 60-day injured list Friday.08/28
- 60-Day-ILReed Garrett (RP) — The Mets placed Garrett (elbow) on the 60-day injured list Tuesday.05/08
- 60-Day-ILTylor Megill (SP) — The Mets placed Megill (elbow) on the 60-day injured list Thursday.05/08
- 15-Day-ILOrlando Ribalta (RP) — MRI results on Ribalta's right forearm came back negative Tuesday.09/09
- 60-Day-ILConnelly Early (SP) — Nationals president of baseball operations Paul Toboni said Wednesday that Early (elbow) is tentatively scheduled to make his team debut Sept. 26 against the Mets.09/17
- 60-Day-ILMatt Waldron (RP) — The Nationals placed Waldron on the 15-day injured list Tuesday, retroactive to Saturday, with chest inflammation.09/12
- 60-Day-ILDrew Millas (C) — Millas will undergo surgery Friday on his fractured left index finger.09/10
- 60-Day-ILPJ Poulin (RP) — The Nationals transferred Poulin (forearm) from the 15-day injured list to the 60-day IL on Sunday.08/02
- 60-Day-ILMitchell Parker (RP) — Parker underwent elbow ligament repair surgery with an internal brace Wednesday.07/30
- 60-Day-ILKen Waldichuk (RP) — Waldichuk (elbow) underwent Tommy John surgery and an internal brace procedure April 21 and is hopeful to return to game action at some point early in the 2027 season.06/11
Nothing is at stake in the standings, and it shows in the Polymarket chat, which is close to empty. Still, it's a 66-degree, cloudy night in D.C., with a lefty who has been sharp facing a Mets team that has to cover 27 outs without a named starter. That's enough to make the opener worth paying attention to.