The New York Mets are set to conclude a four-game series against the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park in Washington, D.C., on Thursday. The matchup promises to be an intriguing encounter, with the Mets looking to cap off their strong run in the series.
Series Recap
The series has been a roller-coaster for both teams. On Wednesday, the Nationals rallied for a 7-5 victory over the Mets, a crucial win that helped Washington recover some ground after back-to-back 10-inning victories by New York in the initial games of the series.
The Mets currently stand with a .500 record at 42-42, securing their place in the third spot in the National League East. Recent form suggests that they are a team in good shape, having secured 14 wins in their last 19 games. On the other hand, the Nationals sit fourth in the National League East with a 40-46 record and have been struggling, losing seven of their last nine games.
Pitching Matchup
The pitching duel will feature Jose Quintana for the Mets and Jake Irvin for the Nationals. Quintana, who holds a season record of 3-5 with a 4.57 ERA, has been consistent on the mound, not conceding more than three earned runs in any start since May 10. In his latest outing against Houston, Quintana pitched four innings, allowing two earned runs while striking out seven. Despite the short stint, the Mets triumphed 7-2.
Irvin, for the Nationals, boasts a 6-6 record with a 3.03 ERA. His recent performances have been nothing short of impressive. Pitching against Tampa Bay, Irvin allowed just one earned run on one hit over six innings, striking out five. His six innings of work against Colorado on June 23 were even more dominant, where he conceded just three hits and one earned run while striking out ten.
Battle at the Plate
For the Mets, Brandon Nimmo stands out with his batting. Nimmo is batting .248 for the season and has contributed significantly to the Mets’ offense with 16 doubles, two triples, 13 home runs, 52 RBIs, and 54 runs scored. He has been consistent, garnering hits in seven of the past ten games. Notably, Nimmo went 3-for-4 with a double, a home run, and three RBIs in a recent 10-5 loss to Houston. He followed that up with a strong performance on Tuesday, going 2-for-3 with a double, two RBIs, and a run scored in the Mets' 7-2 10-inning win.
C.J. Abrams has been a key player for the Nationals, batting .283 this season. Abrams has an impressive tally of 20 doubles, five triples, 13 home runs, 43 RBIs, and 53 runs scored over 78 games. His recent form has been noteworthy – he delivered four multi-hit games in the past eight, including back-to-back three-hit performances against San Diego on June 24 and 25. Abrams also went 2-for-5 with an RBI in Tuesday's loss to New York, and he shone in the Nationals' 8-1 win at Tampa Bay on Saturday, hitting a double and home run.
Final Stretch
The series finale is scheduled for an early start with the first pitch at 11:05 a.m. ET. The Mets are slight favorites for the game with a money line of -114, while Washington stands at -105. The run line sees New York at -1.5 (+139), and the over/under for total runs is set at 9. Historically, the Mets have had the upper hand in this rivalry, leading the all-time series 474-468.
As both teams prepare for the final showdown, the pitching prowess of Quintana and Irvin, combined with the offensive capabilities of players like Nimmo and Abrams, set the stage for an exciting conclusion to this fiercely contested series. Fans can only hope for a game that matches the intensity and drama the series has provided so far.