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New York Mets at Washington Nationals

By JR·2 min read
New York MetsNYM(73-87)
Washington NationalsWSH(76-84)
AT
12:35 PM ET

TLDR: The Mets lost the series opener 7-6 in Washington, and the loss clinched last place in the NL East for the first time since 2003. On Saturday afternoon the Nationals make it about something else: their deadline pickup finally pitches for them.

SAT SEP 26, 12:35 PM
Spread
WIN
Total
Mets
(73-87)
LLWWL
Nationals
(76-84)
WWWLL

The last-place Mets visit Washington for the middle game of the season's final series a day after losing the opener 7-6. Connelly Early makes his Nationals debut on a short leash before Jake Irvin takes over, and Jonah Tong starts for New York. The Mets are road favorites despite the worse record, and the game will turn on how long each side's pitching holds up in the drizzle.

Mets
  • Benge and Bichette homered back-to-back in the opener
  • Early making first MLB start since June
  • Took 2 of 3 in Texas this week
  • Tong walked 4 in his last start
  • Bullpen threw 4 wild pitches in 1 Friday inning
  • Hagenman's 4 relief innings thin the pen
Nationals
  • Won 3 straight, including the opener
  • Early and Irvin cover innings as a planned piggyback
  • Crews homer decided Friday's game
  • Early walked 5 in 2.2 rehab innings
  • Several relievers out with arm injuries
  • Early is capped at 2 to 3 innings

Jonah Tong (2-2, 4.21) takes the ball for New York at 12:35 PM ET against Connelly Early (7-5, 3.44), who makes his Nationals debut after coming off the 60-day IL with an elbow problem. Don't expect a starter's line from Early. Washington plans to have him throw 2 to 3 innings before handing the game to Jake Irvin in bulk relief. That makes this a piggyback, and Tong is the only arm on either side expected to work deep.

Jonah Tong
Jonah Tong
(2-2)·4.21 ERA
Sep 20 vs Phillies
L
4.2IP
4ER
5K
4BB
95P
09/26 Lineup
Connelly Early
Connelly Early
(7-5)·3.44 ERA
Jun 30 vs Nationals
ND
4.0IP
0ER
5K
2BB
61P
09/26 Lineup

Early's return hasn't been smooth. He came over from Boston at the deadline while still hurt with left elbow inflammation and hasn't pitched in the majors since late June. His 2 rehab starts added up to 2.2 innings, 6 runs (3 earned), 4 strikeouts and 5 walks. Tong's last outing had the same problem: 4 walks against the Phillies in a start that didn't reach the fifth. Both starters have been missing the zone, and the forecast has drizzle and a 57% chance of rain. The Mets are still favored on the road, even though they're the club with the worse record.

Friday's opener shows how loose these 2 teams are playing. Mark Vientos and Bo Bichette gave New York a 3-2 lead by the third. Then Mets relievers threw 4 wild pitches in a 4-run Washington inning. Bichette and Carson Benge hit back-to-back homers to get the Mets back within reach, and Dylan Crews homered to decide it. Benge's homer was his 20th, which makes him the first Mets rookie with 20 homers and 20 steals in a season.

New York Mets
(73-87)
09/25L@Nationals6-7
09/24L@Rangers1-3
09/23W@Rangers7-2
09/22W@Rangers6-3
09/20LvsPhillies2-7
Washington Nationals
(76-84)
09/25WvsMets7-6
09/23W@Tigers4-2
09/22W@Tigers3-1
09/21L@Tigers2-9
09/20L@Cardinals3-5

Washington has won 3 straight, including 2 of 3 in Detroit before coming home. The Mets have lost 2 straight after taking 2 of 3 in Texas. New York's bullpen took on a lot Friday. Justin Hagenman soaked up 4 innings of relief, while Jonathan Pintaro gave up 3 runs in 1/3 of an inning and Cionel Pérez allowed another. That leaves Carlos Mendoza with fewer options if Tong's command goes again, and 1 more game in this set comes after this one.

New York Mets
(7)
  • 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
Washington Nationals
(7)
  • 15-Day-ILOrlando Ribalta (RP) — MRI results on Ribalta's right forearm came back negative Tuesday.09/09
  • 60-Day-ILNewConnelly Early (SP) — Early (elbow) will be activated from the 60-day injured list and make his Nationals debut with a start Saturday versus the Mets.09/25
  • 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

Both injury lists read like September. The Mets are missing Christian Scott (knee), Jared Young (concussion) and relievers Daniel Duarte and Robert Stock, plus Jorge Polanco for the year. The Nationals have lost a string of relievers to arm injuries: Mitchell Parker, PJ Poulin, Ken Waldichuk, Orlando Ribalta and Matt Waldron. Neither club is playing for anything, so the reason to watch is Early's first look in a Nationals uniform and how long both teams' pitching holds up.

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New York Mets at Washington Nationals — Nationals Hand Connelly Early the Ball as the Mets Play Out the String | Polymarket Odds · Barstool Bush