Peterson looks to keep his hot run against Washington alive as Mets visit Nationals
The Nationals capped a tough stretch by taking half of a four-game set with Philadelphia and now shift their focus to a New York squad that has hit a rough patch. The Mets have dropped 14 of 17, dealing with injuries along the way, but they did win two straight against the Mariners over the weekend, including Sunday night’s Little League Classic in Williamsport. There’s motivation on both sides to make a statement in this four-game push toward the stretch run, and neither team can afford a misstep in this series.
One of the Mets’ most reliable arms this season has been left-hander David Peterson. The veteran has moved up in the rotation and earned his first All-Star nod, posting a strong track record against Washington. He’s 6-1 with a 2.64 ERA in 13 career appearances (10 starts) against the Nationals, including a six-hit, zero-walk shutout at Citi Field earlier this season.
For Washington, Jake Irvin gives the Nationals a chance to rebound after a rough June 11 start against New York in which he allowed four runs in five innings. That outing stands in contrast to his April 25 start against the Mets, when he worked seven-plus innings and yielded just one run. Irvin has had success against this lineup in the past, most memorably throwing eight innings of one-hit ball last July 4 and then going 7 1/3 innings allowing one run last September in Flushing. Which version shows up tonight could go a long way toward determining the series’ early momentum.
NEW YORK METS at WASHINGTON NATIONALS
Where: Nationals Park
Gametime: 6:45 p.m. EDT
TV: MASN2, MLB.tv
Radio: 106.7 FM, 87.7 FM (Spanish), MLB.com
Weather: Chance of rain, 71 degrees, wind 9 mph in from right field
METS
SS Francisco Lindor
RF Juan Soto
LF Brandon Nimmo
1B Pete Alonso
2B Jeff McNeil
DH Mark Vientos
3B Brett Baty
C Luis Torrens
CF Cedric Mullins
LHP David Peterson
NATIONALS
LF James Wood
SS CJ Abrams
2B Paul DeJong
DH Josh Bell
C Riley Adams
RF Dylan Crews
1B Andrés Chaparro
3B Brady House
CF Jacob Young
RHP Jake Irvin
Key angles and notes
– Peterson has thrived against the Nationals, giving his club a trusted pitching option with a favorable history.
– Irvin will try to flip the script after a rough June 11 outing, aiming to replicate his better starts against New York from earlier in the season and last year.
– The Mets arrive in Washington nursing injuries but still possess a capable lineup up top with Lindor and Soto leading a potent order, while the Nationals will lean on Wood, Abrams, and the rest of a young lineup to impose their own pace.
At a glance
– Series outlook: Both teams seek momentum in a big series against a rival division foe; the Mets hope to shake off a slide, while the Nationals aim to extend their encouraging play against a playoff-caliber opponent.
– Tactical tease: Peterson’s ability to mix speeds and locate on the corners will test Irvin’s command, while the Mets’ left-handed matchup against Irvin could shape early run production.
A positive, hopeful take
This clash offers both teams a chance to reset: Washington can build on recent performances versus strong opponents, while New York can reestablish trust in its rotation and lineup with a quality start from Peterson and a productive offensive approach against Irvin. If the Mets can survive an early jam and ride their veteran arms, they could snap out of the skid; if the Nationals stay efficient at the plate and execute defensively, they could climb in the standings with another win behind their young core.
Summary
A pivotal late-season game set, featuring a Mets club trying to rebound from injuries and a Nationals squad looking to capitalize on momentum against a veteran-studded opponent. Both sides bring compelling pitching matchups, timely bats, and the chance to alter the tone of their respective seasons.