Game Thread: Mets vs. Nationals, 1:40 P.M.

Sunday, September 21, 2025 • 1:40 PM
Citi Field • Flushing, NY
RHP Jake Irvin (8-13, 5.76) vs. LHP Sean Manaea (2-3, 5.40)
SNY

The New York Mets’ comeback fell short saturday night and margins for error in the final week got a bit smaller. It was a night of defensive miscues for the Mets. Mistakes in the second inning led to a 3-0 Washington Nationals lead. The Mets came alive late scoring twice in the 8th and once in the 9th to tie the game, but left the bases loaded tempting fate with extra-innings.

In the top of the 11th, Daylen Lile hit a ball that hit the outfield wall at a sharp angle. Cedric Mullins didn’t handle it well, Lile ended up with a two-run inside the park home run and the Mets went on to lose.

The Reds and Diamondbacks both won Saturday, and now the Mets have a one game lead.

Mets Lineup

1. Francisco Lindor – SS
2. Juan Soto – RF
3. Brandon Nimmo – LF
4. Pete Alonso – 1B
5. Jeff McNeil – 2B
6. Mark Vientos – DH
7. Brett Baty – 3B
8. Luis Torrens – C
9. Cedric Mullins – CF

Sean Manaea will start this afternoon for the Mets with Clay Holmes as a possible candidate to follow him Sunday afternoon. Over 12 games this season, Manaea has pitched 55 innings with a 5.40 ERA, 4.20 FIP, 1.200 WHIP, and a 75 ERA+. Last week, Holmes started first with Manaea coming out to relieve him.

Manaea allowed only one run (solo homer) on four hits and no walks over five innings, it was the best he’s looked in a while. The Nationals have the following career numbers against him:

• CJ Abrams 3-12, 4 K
• Riley Adams 1-2, HR, K
• Josh Bell 4-8, 2B
• Andres Chaparro 1-5, BB, 2 K
• Dylan Crews 0-4, 2 K
• Paul DeJong 0-2, K
• Luis García Jr. 2-5, 2 K
• Brady House 2-2, 2B
• Daylen Lile 0-2
• Nasim Nuñez 0-1, BB
• James Wood 0-9, 3 K
• Jacob Young 2-5, 2B, BB, 2 K

Nationals Lineup

1. James Wood – DH
2. Dylan Crews – RF
3. Josh Bell – 1B
4. Daylen Lile – LF
5. Paul DeJong – 2B
6. Jorge Alfaro – C
7. Brady House – 3B
8. Nasim Nunez – SS
9. Jacob Young – CF

The Mets will look to get out to an early lead against Jake Irvin this afternoon. Over 31 starts and 168 2/3 innings, Irvin has a 5.76 ERA, 5.66 FIP, 1.435 WHIP, and a 72 ERA+. Irvin is in the midst of a particularly tough stretch allowing 35 runs over his last seven games (32 2/3 innings) good for a 9.37 ERA and 7.03 FIP. This includes a start against the Mets where he allowed six runs from eight hits over six innings.

The Mets have the following career numbers against Irvin:

• Pete Alonso 2-18, 2B, 2 BB, 5 K
• Francisco Alvarez 2-14, 7 K
• Brett Baty 1-6, HR, BB
• Francisco Lindor 7-20, 3 2B, HR, 5 K
• Starling Marte 1-2, K
• Ronny Mauricio 0-1
• Jeff McNeil 5-15, 2B, 2 BB, K
• Cedric Mullins 1-8, K
• Brandon Nimmo 7-20, 2 HR, 2 BB, K
• Jose Siri 0-2, K
• Juan Soto 2-8, HR, 3 BB, 3 K
• Luis Torrens 0-5, 2 K
• Mark Vientos 2-15, HR, 2 K

Game Notes

Prior to Sunday’s game, the Mets made the following roster moves:

• Designated RHP Chris Devenski for assignment
• Activated LHP Sean Manaea from the paternity list

Three Things To Watch For

1. Clay Holmes. Holmes may be used a reliever for the first time this season this afternoon. Holmes has pitched in 30 games with 155 innings, posting a 3.77 ERA, 4.19 FIP, 1.342 WHIP, and a 107 ERA+. He allowed two runs from three hits off of two solo homers in his last start where he was relieved by Sean Manaea. Holmes last faced the Nationals all the way back in April, keeping them scoreless over five innings.
2. Frustrations from last night. Saturday, the Mets went 3-for-16 with runners in scoring position, leaving 13 batters on base. They had a lot of opportunities to win the game. For what it’s worth, the Nationals also struggled with runners in scoring position, going 1-for-12, leaving six runners on base.
3. Playoff race. The Chicago Cubs and Cincinnati Reds will kick off at the same time as the Mets today, and the game will be on MLB Network. Andrew Abbott (2.88 ERA) will take on Jameson Taillon (3.93 ERA). The Philadelphia Phillies and Ranger Suárez (2.84 ERA) will take on Eduardo Rodriguez (5.12 ERA) and Diamondbacks at 4:10 pm ET. Also, in the late window, the San Francisco Giants will take on the Los Angles Dodgers. The Giants lost again on Saturday and are now four games back and their playoff window is closing quickly.

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