Announcement

**Drucifer** · 26-Sep-2020, 12:56 PM

Mets in Must-Win (and then hope) Scenario vs. Nationals

Michael Conforto acknowledged Friday afternoon that the New York Mets needed assistance to reach the postseason.

It took nine hours, but the Mets received a tiny bit of help that has them mathematically live. It came from Trent Grisham and the San Diego Padres.

The Mets will possess the faintest of postseason aspirations Saturday afternoon, when they face the host Washington Nationals in a doubleheader necessitated by a rainout Friday night.

The Nationals will start Max Scherzer (4-4, 3.67 ERA) in the opener and Anibal Sanchez (3-5, 6.80 ERA) in the nightcap.

The Mets have not announced the order of their pitchers, but they are likely to go with the pitchers who were slotted to start Friday and Saturday -- Rick Porcello (1-6, 5.46 ERA) and Jacob deGrom (4-2, 2.14 ERA).

The Mets, who won Thursday's series opener 3-2, stayed in contention at the last second when, late Friday night, Grisham hit a walk-off three-run homer to lift the Padres past the San Francisco Giants, 6-5. The Giants had already won the first game of the twin bill over the Padres.

The wild card is the only path to the playoffs for the Mets (26-31), whose chances of finishing second in the NL East evaporated earlier Friday when the Miami Marlins beat the New York Yankees, 4-3, in 10 innings.

To stay in contention heading into Sunday, the Mets need to sweep the doubleheader while two of the three teams ahead of them in the race for the final wild card -- the Giants and Philadelphia Phillies, need to lose both of their remaining games. The third of those teams, the Milwaukee Brewers, would have to lose at least one of their remaining two.

"We're still in this thing," Conforto said during a Zoom call Friday afternoon. "We need a little help. But I know these guys are going to do their best until the end, and we'll see what happens."

The Nationals (23-34) will take the field on what is likely to be a memorable birthday for manager Dave Martinez, who turns 56 Saturday. Washington reportedly agreed with Martinez, who steered the team to the first championship in franchise history last fall, on the terms of a three-year contract extension Friday.

The Nationals had a 2021 option on Martinez, but general manager Mike Rizzo said upon signing his own extension earlier this month that his "priority one" was to ink Martinez to a new long-term deal.

"My plan is and my preference is to not pick up the option and go well beyond that," Rizzo said.

Porcello is 3-1 with a 2.67 ERA in four career starts against the Nationals. DeGrom is 8-4 with a 2.50 ERA in 19 starts against Washington.

Scherzer is 11-5 with a 2.63 ERA in 23 games (22 starts) against the Mets, whom he no-hit in a doubleheader on the penultimate day of the season on Oct. 3, 2015. Sanchez is 5-7 with a 4.94 ERA in 18 starts against New York.

The presence of Porcello and deGrom ensures there will be a battle of former Cy Young Award winners in one of the games. Porcello won the AL's award in 2016 while Scherzer won in the AL in 2013 and in the in the NL in 2016 and 2017. deGrom then won the next two in the NL.

Porcello has been involved in all four battles of former Cy Young Award winners this season. He and Scherzer opposed each other on Aug. 5 and Aug. 11. Porcello also faced the Philadelphia Phillies' Jake Arrieta, the 2015 NL winner, on Sept. 4 and Sept. 15.

**Drucifer** · 26-Sep-2020, 12:58 PM

Top of 1:
Mets first. Nimmo struck out. McNeil singled to center. Davis grounded into a double play, third baseman Harrison to second baseman Lu.García to first baseman Holt, McNeil out.
Runs: 0, Hits: 1

Bottom of 1:
Nationals first. Stevenson lined out to left fielder Smith. Turner fouled out to third baseman Guillorme. Soto struck out.
Runs: 0, Hits: 0

Top of 2:
Mets second. Smith grounded out, first baseman Holt to pitcher Scherzer. Canó lined out to center fielder Robles. Alonso singled to left. Giménez struck out. Rosario pinch-hitting for Giménez.
Runs: 0, Hits: 1

Bottom of 2:
Nationals second. Rosario in as shortstop. Hernandez struck out. Holt fouled out to third baseman Guillorme. Gomes singled to center. Lu.García struck out.
Runs: 0, Hits: 1

Top of 3:
Mets third. Guillorme walked on a full count. Ramos homered to center on a 1-2 count, Guillorme scored. Nimmo struck out. McNeil safe at first on fielding error by first baseman Holt. Davis lined out to second baseman Lu.García. Smith grounded into fielder's choice, second baseman Lu.García to shortstop Turner, McNeil out.
Runs: 2, Hits: 1

Bottom of 3:
Nationals third. Harrison struck out. Robles struck out. Stevenson homered to center on a 2-2 count. Turner struck out.
Runs: 1, Hits: 1

Top of 4:
Mets fourth. Canó grounded out, second baseman Lu.García to first baseman Holt. Alonso flied out to right fielder Soto. Rosario homered to center on a 1-1 count. Guillorme struck out.
Runs: 1, Hits: 1

Bottom of 4:
Nationals fourth. Soto flied out to right fielder McNeil. Hernandez struck out. Holt singled to center. Gomes singled to center, Holt to third. On deGrom's wild pitch, Holt scored, Gomes to second. Lu.García walked on a full count. Harrison struck out.
Runs: 1, Hits: 2

Top of 5:
Mets fifth. Ramos grounded out, shortstop Turner to first baseman Holt. Nimmo singled to center. McNeil popped out to left fielder Stevenson. Davis struck out.
Runs: 0, Hits: 1

Bottom of 5:
Nationals fifth. Robles struck out. Stevenson hit an inside-the-park home run to left on a 1-2 count. Turner grounded out, pitcher deGrom to first baseman Alonso. Soto walked on a full count. Soto stole second. Hernandez struck out.
Runs: 1, Hits: 1

Top of 6:
Mets sixth. Smith popped out to third baseman Harrison. Canó doubled to center. Heredia pinch-running for Canó. On Scherzer's wild pitch, Heredia to third. Alonso walked. Rosario struck out. Guillorme struck out.
Runs: 0, Hits: 1

Bottom of 6:
Nationals sixth. Nimmo in as right fielder. McNeil in as second baseman. Heredia in as center fielder. M.Castro pitching. Holt walked on a full count. Gomes singled to center, Holt to third. Lu.García struck out. Díaz pitching. Harrison grounded into fielder's choice, right fielder Nimmo to shortstop Rosario, Holt scored, Gomes out. Robles struck out.
Runs: 1, Hits: 1

Top of 7:
Mets seventh. Harris pitching. Ramos grounded out, second baseman Lu.García to first baseman Holt. Nimmo hit an infield single to second. McNeil popped out to shortstop Turner. Davis struck out.
Runs: 0, Hits: 1

**Drucifer** · 26-Sep-2020, 12:59 PM

Mets Lose 4-3 to Washington, Eliminated from Playoffs

by BOBBY BANCROFT

WASHINGTON -- The New York Mets were eliminated from the playoffs in a mistake-filled 4-3 loss to the Washington Nationals in the first game of a doubleheader on Saturday.

The Mets (26-32) needed to win their three remaining games and receive help from multiple teams to sneak into the final wild-card spot in the expanded playoffs. But New York couldn’t hold a 3-1 lead in the fourth inning of a seven-inning game and missed the postseason for the fourth straight year.

“It’s the toughest loss of the year because it takes us out of what we were trying to achieve,” Mets manager Luis Rojas said.

Andrew Stevenson hit two homers — including one inside the park — for the last-place Nationals, and Max Scherzer (5-4) worked six solid innings to finish with a winning record for the 11th consecutive season, tying Los Angeles Dodgers’ Clayton Kershaw for the longest active streak in the majors.

“Just stinks that the year’s over,” Scherzer said. “My body feels like it’s September, but my arm feels like it’s May.”

Wilson Ramos — who played in Washington for seven seasons — hit a two-run homer to center to give the Mets a 2-0 lead in the third. Amed Rosario’s solo shot in the fourth, also off Scherzer, made it 3-1.

Andrew Stevenson hit a conventional homer off Jacob deGrom in the third. Washington added a run in the fourth on deGrom’s wild pitch.

“There’s eight teams going and we didn’t make it,” deGrom said. “I think the level of disappointment is pretty high.”

In the fifth, Mets left fielder Dominic Smith slipped and then collided with the left-field wall trying to catch Stevenson’s flyball. Smith stayed down as Stevenson rounded the bases for an inside the park homer. Trainers and teammates came out to attend to Smith, who stayed in the game.

DeGrom was concerned about Smith because of how loud the sound was when he hit the wall.

“He felt bad he didn’t catch the ball but the main thing was him coming out of there being healthy,” deGrom said.

Miguel Castro (2-2) walked Brock Holt to lead off the sixth and Yan Gomes singled, advancing Holt to third. Castro struck out Luis Garcia before Rojas brought in Edwin Díaz with one out to face Josh Harrison, whose sacrifice fly to right gave Washington its first lead.

Will Harris worked the seventh for his first save.

SCOREBOARD WATCHING

After Friday’s rainout, the Mets headed back to their hotel and kept an eye on what else was going on around the majors, hoping their trip to Nationals Park on Saturday would be meaningful. Jeff McNeil summed up his teammates’ point of view this way: “We just can control what we can control. We need to go out there and win and the rest is not up to us. We kind of put ourselves in a bad situation.”

MARTINEZ’S DEAL

Before the game, the Nationals announced manager Dave Martinez agreed to a multiyear contract extension, although general manager Mike Rizzo wouldn’t say how many years it adds to the skipper’s deal. “We don’t talk about terms as far as years, length and salaries and that type of thing. We’re comfortable with what we have and the consistency that we’re going to have down the road,” said Rizzo, who recently agreed to a three-year extension of his own.

Martinez was hired in 2017 and given a three-year deal with an option for 2021 that had not been picked up before he signed his extension.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Mets: SS Andrés Giménez left during his at-bat in the second inning with a two-strike count and was replaced by Rosario.

UP NEXT

New York sent out right hander Rick Porcello (1-6, 5.46 ERA) to face Washington RHP Aníbal Sánchez (3-5, 6.80) in the second game of the doubleheader.

**Drucifer** · 26-Sep-2020, 12:59 PM

Top of 1:
Mets first. Nimmo grounded out, second baseman Lu.García to first baseman Holt. McNeil grounded out, first baseman Holt unassisted. Canó grounded out, first baseman Holt to pitcher Sánchez.
Runs: 0, Hits: 0

Bottom of 1:
Nationals first. Stevenson hit an infield single to third. Turner flied out to right fielder Nimmo. Soto lined out to center fielder Heredia. Hernandez struck out.
Runs: 0, Hits: 1

Top of 2:
Mets second. Alonso singled to center. Frazier flied out to center fielder Taylor. Guillorme struck out. Alonso stole second. Rosario struck out.
Runs: 0, Hits: 1

Bottom of 2:
Nationals second. Holt struck out. Suzuki singled to center. Lu.García grounded into fielder's choice, shortstop Rosario to second baseman Guillorme, Suzuki out. Harrison singled to center, Lu.García to third. Taylor grounded into fielder's choice, shortstop Rosario to second baseman Guillorme, Harrison out.
Runs: 0, Hits: 2

Top of 3:
Mets third. Heredia flied out to center fielder Taylor. Chirinos flied out to center fielder Taylor. Nimmo grounded out, third baseman Harrison to first baseman Holt.
Runs: 0, Hits: 0

Bottom of 3:
Nationals third. Stevenson struck out. Turner homered to right on a 1-1 count. Soto walked on a full count. On Porcello's wild pitch, Soto to second. Hernandez doubled to right, Soto scored. Holt popped out to third baseman Frazier. Suzuki singled to center, Hernandez scored. Suzuki stole second. Lu.García safe at first on fielding error by first baseman Alonso, Suzuki to third. Harrison singled to right, Suzuki scored, Lu.García to third. Taylor hit an infield single to third, Lu.García scored, Harrison to second. Stevenson lined out to third baseman Frazier.
Runs: 5, Hits: 5

Top of 4:
Mets fourth. McNeil grounded out, second baseman Lu.García to first baseman Holt. Canó doubled to left. Alonso homered to left on the first pitch, Canó scored. Frazier struck out. Guillorme flied out to center fielder Taylor.
Runs: 2, Hits: 2

Bottom of 4:
Nationals fourth. E.Ramírez pitching. Turner singled to left. Soto grounded out, third baseman Frazier to first baseman Alonso, Turner to second. Hernandez grounded out, second baseman Guillorme to first baseman Alonso, Turner to third. Holt flied out to center fielder Heredia.
Runs: 0, Hits: 1

Top of 5:
Mets fifth. Rosario grounded out, shortstop Turner to first baseman Holt. Heredia flied out to left fielder Stevenson. Chirinos grounded out, third baseman Harrison to first baseman Holt.
Runs: 0, Hits: 0

Bottom of 5:
Nationals fifth. Betances pitching. Suzuki walked. Lu.García struck out. Harrison grounded into fielder's choice, third baseman Frazier to second baseman Guillorme, Suzuki out. Taylor walked, Harrison to second. Stevenson struck out.
Runs: 0, Hits: 0

Top of 6:
Mets sixth. Nimmo walked on a full count. McNeil grounded into fielder's choice, first baseman Holt to third baseman Harrison, Nimmo out. Canó singled to center, McNeil to second. Suero pitching. Alonso walked on a full count, McNeil to third, Canó to second. Frazier singled to left, McNeil scored, Canó to third, Alonso to second. Guillorme struck out. Rosario struck out.
Runs: 1, Hits: 2

Bottom of 6:
Nationals sixth. Hughes pitching. Turner flied out to right fielder Nimmo. Soto hit a ground-rule double to center. Hernandez grounded out, pitcher Hughes to first baseman Alonso, Soto to third. Holt grounded out, second baseman Guillorme to first baseman Alonso.
Runs: 0, Hits: 1

Top of 7:
Mets seventh. Hudson pitching. Heredia struck out. Davis pinch-hitting for Chirinos. Davis walked on a full count. Nimmo grounded into fielder's choice, first baseman Holt to third baseman Harrison, Davis out. McNeil flied out to right fielder Soto.
Runs: 0, Hits: 0

**Drucifer** · 26-Sep-2020, 01:00 PM

Mets Eliminated from Playoffs, then Swept by Nats in DH

by BOBBY BANCROFT

WASHINGTON -- The New York Mets were eliminated from playoff contention in a mistake-filled loss to the Nationals in the opener of a doubleheader on Saturday, and not much changed in the nightcap as an error extended a big inning for Washington, which won 5-3 to sweep the twinbill.

Entering Saturday, the Mets (26-33) needed to win their three remaining games and receive help from multiple teams to sneak into the final wild-card spot in the expanded playoffs. Instead, New York is in danger of finishing tied with Washington (25-34) in the NL East cellar.

"I wish we had 100 more" games, Mets star Pete Alonso said. "I feel like this team is built to win. We have a ridiculous amount of talent. It's unfortunate we couldn't put it together in a 60-game timespan. We had a lot of talent and we just didn't do it."

Trea Turner started off the Nationals' decisive third inning of the second game with a homer to left field off Rick Porcello (1-7). Yadiel Hernandez and Kurt Suzuki drove in runs for Washington before first baseman Alonso's fielding error with two out opened the door for two unearned runs.

Alonso hit a two-run homer, his team-leading 14th, off Anibal Sanchez (4-5) into the visitor's bullpen in the fourth.

Todd Frazier had a run-scoring single in the sixth for New York, but reliever Wander Suero struck out two batters with the bases loaded to end the inning.

Daniel Hudson worked the seventh for his 10th save.

In the first game, New York couldn't hold a 3-1 lead in the fourth inning and lost 4-3, ensuring it would miss the postseason for the fourth straight year.

"It's the toughest loss of the year because it takes us out of what we were trying to achieve," Mets manager Luis Rojas said.

Andrew Stevenson hit two homers - including one inside the park - for the Nationals, and Max Scherzer (5-4) worked six solid innings to finish with a winning record for the 11th consecutive season, tying Los Angeles Dodgers' Clayton Kershaw for the longest active streak in the majors.

"Just stinks that the year's over," Scherzer said. "My body feels like it's September, but my arm feels like it's May."

Wilson Ramos hit a two-run homer to center to give the Mets a 2-0 lead in the third and Amed Rosario added a solo shot in the fourth, also off Scherzer, to make it 3-1.

Andrew Stevenson hit a conventional homer off Jacob deGrom in the third. Washington added a run in the fourth on deGrom's wild pitch.

"There's eight teams going and we didn't make it," said deGrom, who finished 4-2 with a 2.38 ERA following his back-to-back Cy Young Award seasons. "I think the level of disappointment is pretty high."

In the fifth, Mets left fielder Dominic Smith slipped and then collided with the left-field wall trying to catch Stevenson's flyball. Smith stayed down as Stevenson rounded the bases for an inside the park homer. Trainers and teammates came out to attend to Smith, who stayed in the game but did not play in the nightcap.

Miguel Castro (2-2) walked Brock Holt to lead off the sixth and Yan Gomes singled, advancing Holt to third. Castro struck out Luis Garcia before Rojas brought in Edwin Diaz with one out to face Josh Harrison, whose sacrifice fly to right gave Washington its first lead.

Will Harris worked the seventh for his first save.

MARTINEZ'S DEAL

Before the game, the Nationals announced manager Dave Martinez agreed to a multiyear contract extension, although general manager Mike Rizzo wouldn't say how many years it adds to the skipper's deal. "We don't talk about terms as far as years, length and salaries and that type of thing. We're comfortable with what we have and the consistency that we're going to have down the road," said Rizzo, who recently agreed to a three-year extension of his own.

Martinez was hired in 2017 and given a three-year deal with an option for 2021 that had not been picked up before he signed his extension.

SPOILER ALERT

With nothing to play for besides pride, the Nationals instead looked like the team trying to sneak into the playoffs.

"I know the boys were psyched," Martinez said. "We faced deGrom, we faced Porcello - both former Cy Young winners - and we came to play today. It was fun to watch them, they had a lot of energy."

TRAINER'S ROOM

Mets: Placed SS Andres Gimenez (right oblique tightness) on the 10-day injured list after he was injured in the first game. New York selected the contract of OF Ryan Cordell.

UP NEXT

New York RHP Seth Lugo (3-3, 3.82 ERA) will face Washington RHP Austin Voth (1-5, 6.25) on Sunday in the season finale for both teams.