Game Thread: Mets vs Nationals, 4:05 PM

Thursday, August 21, 2025 • 4:05 PM
Nationals Park • Washington, DC
LHP Sean Manaea (1-1, 4.78) vs. LHP MacKenzie Gore (5-12, 4.04)
SNY

The Mets play a must-win rubber game this afternoon against the Nationals. The Mets fell behind early Wednesday night, with the Nationals going up 4-0 by the time the third inning had ended. The Mets would then go on to score four runs in the next two innings, making the score 5-4. Old problems crept in for the Mets, who went 2-for-7 with runners in scoring position, hitting into three different, rally-killing double plays.

Mets Lineup

 

1. Francisco Lindor – SS
2. Juan Soto – RF
3. Starling Marte – DH
4. Pete Alonso – 1B
5. Mark Vientos – 3B
6. Brett Baty – 2B
7. Tyrone Taylor – LF
8. Cedric Mullins – CF
9. Hayden Senger – C

Sean Manaea has pitched 32 innings over seven games with a 4.78 ERA, 4.27 FIP, 1.156 WHIP, and an 84 ERA+. In the month of July, he allowed only four runs over 17 1/3 innings (four games), a 2.08 ERA. August has not been kind to Manaea, as he has allowed 13 runs over 14 2/3 innings. Manaea’s first two games in August followed a similar script. He cruised early, struggled in the fourth or fifth. His last time out, he just started allowing runs from the jump. He was quite good against the Nationals in 2024, holding them to only three runs, two earned, over 14 innings. The Nationals have the following career numbers against him:

• CJ Abrams 3-10, 3 K
• Riley Adams 1-1, HR
• Josh Bell 4-8, 2B
• Andres Chaparro 0-3, K
• Dylan Crews 0-3, K
• Luis García Jr. 2-5, 2 K
• James Wood 0-6, K
• Jacob Young 2-4, 2B, BB, K

Opposing Lineup

one hundred twenty seven. pic.twitter.com/ZlHNBWaPPi

— Washington Nationals (@Nationals) August 21, 2025

The Mets’ bats will get a look at 2025 All-Star MacKenzie Gore today. Over 138 innings, Gore has a 4.04 ERA, 3.50 FIP, 1.319 WHIP and a 102 ERA+. Gore’s numbers are being inflated by three of his four starts between July 20th and August 5th. In that stretch, he allowed 23 runs over 15 2/3 innings, raising his season ERA from 3.02 to 4.29. Since August 5th, Gore has allowed two runs over 12 innings while striking out 17 batters. Against the Mets earlier this season, he allowed two runs over six innings. The Mets have the following career stats against him:

• Pete Alonso 2-18, HR, BB, 2 K
• Brett Baty 0-1, BB, K
• Francisco Lindor 3-17, 2 BB, 2 K
• Starling Marte 4-11, 2 K
• Ronny Mauricio 0-2, K
• Jeff McNeil 8-12, 2 BB, K
• Cedric Mullins 1-6, BB, 2 K
• Brandon Nimmo 5-17, 2 2B, BB, 3 K
• Juan Soto 3-12, 6 K
• Tyrone Taylor 2-11, 2B, HR, 5 K
• Luis Torrens 1-6, 2B, 3 K
• Mark Vientos 2-7, 2B, HR, 2 BB, 2 K

Game Notes

• Jeff McNeil is sitting out today’s game due to right shoulder soreness. The issue mainly pops up when he tries to throw the ball.
• Brandon Nimmo’s neck issue hasn’t improved, and he is continuing to receive treatment, Laura Albanese of Newsday reports.. Luis Torrens is banged up after a rough night behind the plate on Wednesday, but he is feeling okay otherwise.

Three Things To Watch For

1. Brett Baty Season. Brett Baty now has a four-game hitting streak where he has gone 5-for-13 at the plate with two walks and two home runs. He now has 15 homers on the season, and if his hot streak continues, he has a legitimate chance to finish the season with 20 homers. What a turnaround for Baty for this season!
2. Adjusting without key bats. Before Tuesday’s game, Francisco Alvarez landed on the injured list with a thumb injury he sustained sliding into second base on Sunday. Early in Wednesday’s game, Brandon Nimmo was pulled from the game with a recurrence of his neck injury that has plagued him at points in his career. We’ll see today how the Mets organize themselves today, a day game after a night game with a banged-up lineup.
3. An opportunity to gain a half-game today. The Mets have had a weird schedule the last week with an off-day last Thursday and this Monday. Because of that, they are now on day 3 of 16 consecutive days with a game. This also means they’ve played two fewer games than the Reds, who are only one game behind them for the third and final wild card spot. A win today will give the Mets just slightly more breathing room in a tight race.

Let’s go Mets!

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