Ny Mets Mets vs Washington Nationals Picks and Predictions September 16th 2024

From Citi Field in New York, we have the Nationals and Mets facing off in an NL East matchup. First pitch for this one is set for 7:10 PM ET, and MLBN is carrying the TV rights for the matchup.

The Mets are favored at -182 on the money line, and they will be looking to end a two-game losing streak. As for the Nationals, they are +153 and have won three straight. Jake Irvin is starting for the Nationals, and the Mets are sending Sean Manaea to the mound.

Washington vs. New York Key Information

Jake Irvin will be looking to build off his last outing, where he picked up the win vs. the Braves. In that outing, he went six innings and only gave up one earned run. Looking at his overall numbers, Irvin has made 30 starts and has a record of 10-12. His ERA for the season is 4.19, along with a WHIP of 1.19. This year, opponents are batting .240 off the right-hander. Irvin has turned in 15 quality starts and is averaging 7.59 strikeouts per nine innings. For the season, he has given up 26 homers and is averaging 2.3 walks per nine innings.

Washington’s offense is averaging just 4.2 runs per game this season, which is 22nd in the league. They have been a little better on the road, averaging 4.3 runs per game. As a team, the Nationals are batting .244, which is 13th best in the league. They are also one of the league’s best teams at avoiding strikeouts. However, they are near the bottom of the league in home runs and walks.

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Luis Garcia Jr. and CJ Abrams are tied for the team lead in RBIs, with 65, and Abrams also leads the team with 20 homers. Garcia Jr. comes into the game on a three-game hitting streak and is batting .282 for the season. Over his last six games, Jose Tena is hitting .348 with one homer.

Left-hander Sean Manaea gets the start for the Mets today as he faces the Nationals at home. He has made 29 starts this season and has a record of 11-5 with a 3.35 ERA. Manaea’s WHIP for the season is currently 1.10. In his last outing, Manaea finished with a no-decision, going 6 2/3 innings and giving up one earned run on eight hits. Before that, he had pitched at least 6 2/3 innings in three straight starts. Manaea has been solid at home, coming in with a record of 5-3 and 4.50 ERA. On the road, he is 6-2 with a 3.12 ERA.

Francisco Lindor and Pete Alonso have been two of the Mets’ most consistent power threats this season, as Alonso’s 32 homers are 8th in the league and Lindor is 9th in baseball with 31 homers. Lindor comes into the game batting .271 for the season, while Alonso is hitting .241. Lindor also leads the team with 86 RBIs. Over his last 10 games, Mark Vientos has two homers but is batting just .205.

Jose Iglesias comes into the game with a nine-game hitting streak and has gone 12/32 over his last 10 games. Over this stretch, he has seven runs scored. Francisco Alvarez and Harrison Bader have also homered twice over their last nine and 10 games, respectively.

Our lean for an over/under pick would be to take the over in this Nationals vs. Mets matchup. As for a straight-up pick, we would be leaning toward the Mets to come out on top. The Mets have the 3rd best odds to pick up a win among today’s starters, and Sean Manaea is our 8th ranked starting pitcher in terms of strikeouts.

Mets Open Final Homestand vs. Nationals

The New York Mets’ rollercoaster season may take its final twists over the coming week, with much riding on the health of star shortstop Francisco Lindor. As the Mets open a pivotal three-game series against the Washington Nationals on Monday night, they await the results of an MRI that could determine Lindor’s availability for the crucial final stretch of the season.

Lindor, an NL MVP candidate, has been dealing with back discomfort, forcing him out of Friday’s game and keeping him sidelined on Saturday. Though he returned to the lineup on Sunday, his appearance was brief, as he exited after just one inning. The Mets are hopeful that the MRI will reveal nothing serious, but Lindor’s presence—or absence—could make all the difference in their playoff push.

Mets in Wild-Card Race Despite Injuries

Despite losing two of three games over the weekend to the Philadelphia Phillies, the Mets (81-68) remain tied with the Atlanta Braves for the final National League wild-card spot. Both teams have 13 games remaining, including a critical three-game series against each other next week in Atlanta.

The Mets’ postseason hopes hinge on getting their key players healthy, especially Lindor. Since moving to the leadoff spot in mid-May, Lindor has been a catalyst for New York, batting .302 with 24 homers and 65 RBIs in 104 games. His consistency has helped the Mets climb out of an 11-game deficit earlier in the season.

However, Lindor has been playing through back discomfort for two weeks, and the team will need him at his best as they face tough competition in the final stretch. “When you have back problems or a back injury, the back pretty much controls your whole body,” Lindor said. “Anything can make it be a little aggravated.”

Nationals Show Signs of Progress Despite Struggles

The Washington Nationals (68-81) may be on the verge of their fifth consecutive losing season, but there are reasons for optimism. The team has shown glimpses of improvement, particularly from their young core. In Sunday’s 4-3 victory over the Miami Marlins, eight of the Nationals’ starting players were 26 years old or younger.

One standout was rookie James Wood, who hit his first career two-homer game just two days before his 22nd birthday. Starting pitcher MacKenzie Gore, 25, also impressed by throwing six innings of two-hit ball.

“It’s gratifying to see them getting better every day,” said Nationals manager Dave Martinez. “To see them doing the things that we think they can do and have success doing it, it’s awesome.”

Pitching Matchup: Manaea vs. Irvin

On the mound Monday night, the Mets will send left-hander Sean Manaea (11-5, 3.35 ERA) against Nationals right-hander Jake Irvin (10-12, 4.19 ERA).

Manaea has been solid for New York, allowing just one run over 6 2/3 innings in his last start against the Toronto Blue Jays. He has faced Washington four times in his career, going 1-1 with a 4.03 ERA. Manaea will look to build on his success from earlier in the season when he held the Nationals to two runs (one earned) in a seven-inning performance on July 2.

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Irvin, meanwhile, is coming off a strong outing against the Braves, where he allowed just one run over six innings. The right-hander is 1-2 with a 5.79 ERA in three career starts against the Mets, though he has been more effective this season, posting a 1-1 record with a 3.86 ERA in two starts against New York.

Key Players to Watch

• Francisco Lindor: All eyes are on Lindor and the results of his MRI. His health could determine whether the Mets can make a strong push for the postseason. Lindor has been a key contributor at the plate, and the team needs his leadership on the field.
• James Wood: The Nationals rookie had a breakout game on Sunday, hitting two homers. With Washington focusing on their rebuild, Wood will be a player to watch as the season comes to a close.
• Sean Manaea: Manaea has been consistent for the Mets and will need to deliver another strong performance to help his team stay in the playoff race. His history against the Nationals and his recent form suggest he could be a difference-maker in this series.

Conclusion

The Mets enter their final homestand of the regular season with plenty on the line, from playoff positioning to the health of their star shortstop Francisco Lindor. Facing a Nationals team that is showing signs of progress, New York will need to take advantage of every opportunity as they try to secure a postseason berth.