I'm riding the Mets one last time in 2026. Neither team is going anywhere after today, but I see two clubs arriving at the finish line in very different places. New York is trying to circle the wagons, evaluate what it has, and begin building toward 2027. Washington? The Nationals shipped off to Cancun months ago.
Sean Manaea isn't the revelation he was for the Mets in 2024, but he's still a serviceable veteran arm. He enters with a 4.67 ERA and 1.30 WHIP, and we know he can provide some quality innings before the Mets relievers can mop up for him. That's enough for me in this matchup because Washington has declared that it is going with their bullpen. The same pen that has a 5.03 ERA and 1.47 WHIP, one that gets tagged more than a bargain sale.
Washington will pass the ball to DJ Herz to get it started, who has thrown exactly four Major League innings this season after returning from Tommy John surgery. He allowed four runs on five hits in those aforementioned frames. Following that up with the Nats relievers against a dangerous Mets lineup is not ideal, and we saw yesterday what could happen. Things can go sideways fast. Manaea doesn't need to turn back the clock to the heroics, he just needs to steady the ship. Spot the run with the Mets.
Mets vs Nationals prediction: New York Mets -1.5 (+163) available at time of publishing. Playable to +155.
