The New York Mets and the Washington Nationals are poised for an exciting showdown on Thursday, wrapping up a four-game series at Nationals Park in Washington, D.C. This closely contested series has already offered plenty of drama, with Washington rallying to a 7-5 victory on Wednesday after the Mets managed to secure back-to-back 10-inning wins in the preceding two games.
The Mets enter the final game with an even .500 record (42-42) and currently hold the third spot in the National League East. They have been on a promising run, securing 14 wins in their last 19 games. On the other side, the Nationals sit fourth in the same division with a 40-46 record and have struggled recently, losing seven of their last nine games.
Pitching Matchup
Thursday's game will feature Jose Quintana on the mound for the Mets. Quintana holds a 3-5 record for the season with a 4.57 ERA, demonstrating consistent performance by not conceding more than three earned runs in any start since May 10. His previous appearance against the Houston Astros saw him deliver a solid performance, pitching four innings and allowing just two earned runs while striking out seven. The Mets came out on top in that game, winning 7-2.
The Nationals will counter with Jake Irvin, who has put up a 6-6 record and a commendable 3.03 ERA. In his last outing against the Tampa Bay Rays, Irvin pitched six strong innings, giving up only one earned run on one hit and three walks, while striking out five. A standout performance against Colorado on June 23 saw Irvin pitch six innings, allowing three hits and one earned run, while striking out ten.
Key Performances
Offensively, the Mets will look to Brandon Nimmo, who has been a key contributor. Nimmo holds a .248 batting average this season, with 16 doubles, two triples, 13 home runs, 52 RBIs, and 54 runs scored. He has been particularly effective recently, garnering hits in seven of the past ten games. Nimmo went 3-for-4 with a double, a home run, and three RBIs in a game against Houston and followed that up with a 2-for-3 performance, including a double and two RBIs, in Tuesday's victory.
C.J. Abrams stands out for the Nationals with a .283 batting average, 20 doubles, five triples, 13 home runs, 43 RBIs, and 53 runs scored over 78 games. Abrams has maintained his form with four multi-hit games in his last eight appearances, including back-to-back three-hit performances against San Diego. In Tuesday’s loss to the Mets, Abrams went 2-for-5 with an RBI and continued to showcase his versatility with a double and a home run in an 8-1 victory over Tampa Bay on Saturday.
Game Odds
For Thursday's clash, the Mets are slight favorites with a money line of -114, while Washington stands at -105. The run line positions New York at -1.5 (+139), and the over/under for total runs is set at 9, hinting at another potentially high-scoring affair.
With the first pitch scheduled for 11:05 a.m. ET, the stage is set for an intriguing finale to this series. As the Mets look to build on their recent form and the Nationals aim to bounce back, fans can expect a competitive and engaging game highlighting some of the best talents in the division.