The New York Mets are gearing up to face the Washington Nationals in the final game of their four-game series at Nationals Park on Thursday. This faceoff promises to be a fitting conclusion to what has been a dynamic and closely contested series between the two National League East rivals.
Fresh off a stirring comeback victory on Wednesday, the Nationals managed to claw their way to a 7-5 win, putting a halt to the Mets’ momentary dominance in the series. Before that, New York edged out back-to-back 10-inning wins, showcasing their resilience and ability to thrive under pressure.
Mets' Recent Form
The Mets currently hold a .500 record at 42-42 and are sitting in the third spot in their division. They’ve been in commendable form lately, winning 14 out of their last 19 games. This spark of success is something they hope to sustain as they lead the all-time series against the Nationals by 474-468. Despite the mixed results, the Mets have demonstrated consistent performance, setting high expectations for the remainder of the series.
Brandon Nimmo has been an instrumental figure for New York this season. Batting .248, Nimmo has notched 16 doubles, two triples, and 13 home runs, accumulating 52 RBIs and 54 runs scored. His recent performances have been particularly noteworthy. In Tuesday's 7-2 victory, he went 2-for-3 with a double and two RBIs, and in Sunday's clash against Houston, he recorded a 3-for-4 performance with a double, a home run, and three RBIs.
Upcoming Pitching Matchup
The Mets will send Jose Quintana to the mound on Thursday. Quintana, who has a season record of 3-5 with a 4.57 ERA, has been consistent in recent outings. He hasn’t conceded more than three earned runs since May 10 and had an impactful outing against Houston, pitching four innings and allowing two earned runs while striking out seven.
On the other side, the Nationals will counter with Jake Irvin. Irvin boasts a 6-6 record and an impressive 3.03 ERA. In his last start, he pitched remarkably against Tampa Bay, allowing just one earned run on one hit over six innings. His performance on June 23 against Colorado was equally noteworthy, striking out ten while conceding just one earned run over six innings.
Nationals' Season Struggles
Washington comes into the game with a 40-46 record and is placed fourth in the National League East. The Nationals have faced difficulties recently, losing seven of their last nine games. Despite the hiccups, individual performances have provided some solace to the team. C.J. Abrams, for instance, has shown great form with a .283 batting average. Over 78 games, he has accumulated 20 doubles, five triples, 13 home runs, 43 RBIs, and 53 runs scored. Abrams has also delivered four multi-hit games in the past eight, including back-to-back three-hit performances against San Diego.
Abrams continued his good run by going 2-for-5 with an RBI in Tuesday's loss to the Mets. He also had an impressive showing in the Nationals' 8-1 victory at Tampa Bay on Saturday, recording a double and a home run.
The final game of the series is set to begin at 11:05 a.m. ET, with the Mets entering as slight favorites. The money line sits at -114 for New York, whereas Washington is at -105. The run line favors New York at -1.5 (+139), with the over/under for total runs set at 9. Given the competitiveness of this series and the steady performances from both sides, Thursday's game is poised to be an intriguing battle that could swing in either team's favor, potentially impacting their standings in the National League East.