The Nationals need to win a game. Doesn’t matter how. Doesn’t matter who does it. They just need to win a game for the first time in eight days.

They can get there with a quality pitching performance from Joan Adon, who has offered up a couple of those in five starts since returning to the big leagues last month: once against the Reds, once against the Marlins. This is the first time Adon has faced the Mets this year after two matchups last year in which he allowed seven runs in eight total innings.

The Nats were going to face Carlos Carrasco tonight, but the veteran right-hander is out for the season after a 50-pound barbell fell on his pinky finger and broke it. So instead the Mets send right-hander José Butto to the mound for only his fourth career start. One of those came against the Nationals back on April 25, when he issued six walks in 4 2/3 innings and took the loss.

WASHINGTON NATIONALS vs. NEW YORK METS
Where: Nationals Park
Gametime: 7:05 p.m. EDT
TV: MASN, MLB.tv
Radio: 106.7 FM, MLB.com
Weather: Clear, 92 degrees, wind 5 mph out to left field

NATIONALS
SS CJ Abrams
DH Joey Meneses
C Keibert Ruiz
LF Travis Blankenhorn
1B Dominic Smith
3B Carter Kieboom
2B Jake Alu
RF Alex Call
CF Jacob Young

For 94 consecutive games, Davey Martinez filled out a lineup that featured one of two names in the leadoff position: Lane Thomas or CJ Abrams. Since mid-May, there hadn’t been any reason for the Nationals manager to consider anyone else for that job.

But when both Thomas and Abrams needed the night off Tuesday, Martinez was left to select another name for one of the most prominent roles on the team. He chose Jacob Young, knowing the rookie had led off all year in the minors, not to mention throughout the majority of his baseball life.

And though there wasn’t much positive to take away from an 11-5 loss to the Mets, the young leadoff man’s performance did qualify.

Young wound up going 2-for-4 with a walk, an RBI, a double and two runs scored, showing off both his bat and his legs in a solid all-around game.

“He got ready a little earlier tonight, looking for balls in the strike zone,” Martinez said. “He laid off some really good pitches. I’ve known that about him. He’s really good about that, and he’s been leading off his whole career. We’ll see, if Lane can’t play tomorrow, we might let him lead off again.”

Precisely one week ago, Davey Martinez sat in his office at Rogers Centre and raved about the Nationals’ performance in a tense win over the Blue Jays, the latest in a string of impressive wins for this fast-improving ballclub.

"It was awesome for them to feel that adrenaline," the manager said that night. "That was a playoff game. That's what it felt like. Fans were into it. You had a good team on the other side there. The boys stepped up and played well. You can't ask for more than what they did today."

Oh, how long ago that feels now.

The Nationals team that was blown out 11-5 by the Mets tonight looked like it felt no adrenaline. It gave the crowd little reason to provide them with any extra energy. It spent two hours going through the motions of a lopsided game before putting up a bit of a fight late that nonetheless resulted in a sixth consecutive loss, further distancing itself from what felt like such an encouraging stretch of success just before it all came crashing down.

"Look, after the seventh inning, we're pretty good at scoring runs," Martinez said. "But we've got to get some runs early in the game. Especially when you're already down 4-0. To me, that's the big key. When you're in these games and all of a sudden you go down in the first inning, it sucks the air out of you. You're playing comeback. We've got to get through those first couple innings, score some runs early and often and then go from there."

CJ Abrams has missed only 12 games this season. Lane Thomas has missed only five. Tonight, the Nationals will be without both stalwarts for the first time in 2023.

Davey Martinez’s lineup card for the series opener against the Mets doesn’t look like any previous one he has submitted this season. Rookie Jacob Young is leading off, with Joey Meneses batting second, Keibert Ruiz slotted third and Riley Adams hitting cleanup for the first time in his career.

Such is the byproduct of a lineup missing the team’s usual No. 1 and No. 2 hitter.

Abrams’ day off was scheduled, according to Martinez, who noted how the 22-year-old shortstop has looked worn down in the last week as a tough schedule and the reality of September baseball converged.

“The way he plays the game, he’s constantly using his legs,” Martinez said. “He plays a premium position. He’s constantly running, on his feet, stealing bases. He’s been doing a lot of things, diving everywhere. I just felt like over the last few days – and the fact it’s going to be so hot – having a day off yesterday and a day off today could reset him a little bit.”

The Nationals don’t have to face the Marlins anymore this season, and if that isn’t cause for celebration, what is? Tonight they open a two-game series with the Mets, the last time they’ll face New York this year. A sweep would give the Nats the season series at 7-6; one loss would give it to the Mets (if you care about such things).

This would’ve been MacKenzie Gore’s turn in the rotation, but the Nationals are giving the left-hander time to get himself ready after returning today from bereavement leave. (Joe La Sorsa was optioned to Triple-A Rochester.) So it’s Patrick Corbin on the mound, well rested himself because his last start came Wednesday in Toronto.

The Nats face a very different Mets rotation from the last one they faced, with Max Scherzer and Justin Verlander now due to pitch against each other Wednesday night in a huge showdown between the Rangers and Astros. It’ll be Jose Quintana for New York tonight; the veteran lefty has not faced the Nationals yet during an injury-plagued season.

WASHINGTON NATIONALS vs. NEW YORK METS
Where: Nationals Park
Gametime: 7:05 p.m. EDT
TV: MASN, MLB.tv
Radio: 106.7 FM, MLB.com
Weather: Partly cloudy, 92 degrees, wind 6 mph in from center field

NATIONALS
CF Jacob Young
1B Joey Meneses
C Keibert Ruiz
DH Riley Adams
3B Carter Kieboom
SS Ildemaro Vargas
LF Travis Blankenhorn
RF Alex Call
2B Jake Alu

The Orioles have scored 17 runs in winning the first two games of their series with the New York Mets. They go for a three-game sweep this afternoon which would lift them to a season-high 28 games over the .500 mark if they get that done.

The Orioles beat the Mets 10-3 Friday night and 7-3 last night to open a three-game lead over the Tampa Bay Rays atop the American League East. They lead Toronto by 7.5 games and are 11 up on New York and 11.5 games ahead of the Boston Red Sox.

The Orioles have won three in a row, six of seven, 10 of 14 and are 20-7 in the last 27 games, playing .741 ball in that span.

The Orioles have now scored five runs or more 15 times in the last 27 games and they are 15-0 in those games. The Birds have scored 37 runs in the last five games and 50 in their past seven.

In going 6-1 in the last seven games, the Orioles have a run differential of +31, winning those games by six, two, 10, five, seven and four runs.

The Orioles will go for the sweep this afternoon with Jorge Mateo making his first start in center field in two years.

Austin Hays is on the bench again today. He must be one of the “bumps and bruises” guys from the trip to Toronto.

Mateo was a defensive substitution in center field last night. He hasn’t started since June 13, 2021 with the Padres.

Manager Brandon Hyde said yesterday that Mateo has worked out in center to improve the club’s depth with Cedric Mullins and Aaron Hicks on the injured list.

“Of course, I feel comfortable playing out there,” Mateo said via interpreter Brandon Quinones.

NEW YORK – The first time came on the back end of a perfectly executed double-steal, with Jeimer Candelario drawing the throw to second to allow CJ Abrams to race home from third.

The second time came moments after a pickoff attempt, Abrams immediately swiping second ahead of the throw.

And by the third time Abrams attempted to steal Sunday afternoon at Citi Field, the Mets didn’t even bother attempting to throw him out.

The first three-steal game of Abrams’ career wasn’t enough to propel the Nationals to victory. They only scored two runs as a team, and one of those came via the aforementioned double-steal in the top of the first. But it did underscore just how far the 22-year-old shortstop has come in a short period of time, not only at the plate and in the field but on the bases as well.

Abrams is now 24-for-26 on the season on stolen-base attempts, and 21 for his last 21. He hasn’t been thrown out since May 3, when he took off for second too soon and was picked off by the Cubs’ Adbert Alzolay.

NEW YORK – The weekend had already included rain delays, trades and a lot of offense. Sunday’s series finale between the Nationals an Mets included none of that.

Nor did it include a win for the visitors.

A tepid offensive showing against Justin Verlander and a laborious start from Trevor Williams doomed the Nats during a 5-2 loss to close out a long weekend at Citi Field that ultimately didn’t prove to be as rewarding as they hoped.

Despite facing a Mets club tearing down the most expensive roster in major league history and conceding it won’t be winning anything this year, the Nationals still wound up losing three out of four. The consistent theme in those three losses: A lack of offensive punch.

The Nats scored 11 runs in Saturday night’s lone victory. They scored a combined four runs in their three losses.

NEW YORK – When the Nationals’ lineup for today’s series finale against the Mets was posted and Lane Thomas’ name was notably missing, eyebrows surely were raised within the clubhouse, the fan base and perhaps around the rest of the majors.

Such is life in the final days of July, when any player who could be on the trade block doesn’t play.

Thomas’ day off, though, is nothing more than that. Manager Davey Martinez said he had been wanting to give his right fielder a breather for a while, and with a quick turnaround from Saturday night’s rain-delayed win, this felt like the right time to do it.

“He’s good. I’ve just got to give him a day,” Martinez said. “I just wanted to give him a day off today, and he’ll come back tomorrow and be ready to go.”

Thomas started 103 of the Nationals’ first 105 games this season, and both of his days off came way back in April. His performance and importance to a lineup short on consistent production has dictated his usage, and Martinez has been hesitant to sit him at all.

NEW YORK – It’s been quite a weekend here at Citi Field, with two rain delays, two wins for the Mets, one win for the Nationals and one massive trade of a New York pitcher who will forever be better known for pitching for Washington. Now it’s the finale of this four-game series, the Nats with a chance to head home with a split and rub some more salt in the Mets’ wounds.

Neither team released its starting lineup early, which is no surprise given the presence of the trade deadline in two days. No reason to unveil something that could change before gametime. But as far as we know, Jeimer Candelario is playing for the Nationals and Justin Verlander is starting for the Mets.

Verlander could be on his way out at some point in the next 48 hours, perhaps back to Houston, where he’d suddenly be going up against Max Scherzer and the Rangers in the American League West pennant race. If he does start today, he’ll be facing the Nats for the first time this season. The 40-year-old has been very good of late, with a 1.46 ERA in his last six starts.

Trevor Williams, meanwhile, faces his former team for the third time this season. The right-hander gave up four runs in five innings here in April, then allowed one run in 2 1/3 innings in a May start that was cut short by a long rain delay.

WASHINGTON NATIONALS at NEW YORK METS
Where: Citi Field
Gametime: 1:40 p.m. EDT
TV: MASN, MLB.tv
Radio: 106.7 FM, MLB.com
Weather: Mostly sunny, 77 degrees, wind 9 mph in from left field

NEW YORK – There haven’t been many days in the last two years when the Nationals could compare themselves to the Mets and feel better about their own situation than their division counterparts. And there may not be many more days in the near future when that will be the case.

But on this day, July 29, 2023, it was impossible for the guys in the visitors’ dugout at Citi Field to look across the way and believe the grass was any greener over there.

Hours after watching the Mets consummate a haphazard deal that will send Max Scherzer (and a boatload of money) to the Rangers for Ronald Acuña Jr.’s younger brother, the Nationals proceeded to beat up on their hosts and the fans who waited out yet another rain delay, pouring salt in their wounds during an 11-6 thumping.

Make no mistake, the Mets are still ahead of the Nationals in the NL East by 5 1/2 games. And they are going to be motivated to go all-in on trying to win the World Series title that has eluded them since 1986 once again next year. But forgive anybody wearing a curly W cap tonight for feeling even a twinge of schadenfreude given the events of the last 48 hours.

"You're always surprised when, especially a team like the Mets that has so many good players, and all of a sudden they decide the trade was imminent with him," manager Davey Martinez said. "I can say to the Rangers that they're getting a quality starter, a guy that's going to go out there and give them everything he's got. He's definitely going to help Texas. As you all know, I love Max. He's done some unbelievable things for us here in D.C., and I wish him well. I'm glad we don't have to face him again."

NEW YORK – Jeimer Candelario is back in the Nationals lineup tonight, having survived Friday night’s injury scare and ready to resume playing as Tuesday’s trade deadline inches closer.

Candelario thought he hurt his left shoulder an awkward slide into second base as he tried to stretch an eighth-inning single into a double during the Nats’ 5-1 loss to the Mets. He immediately grabbed his left arm and motioned to the dugout for a trainer, then later walked off the field under his own power.

The 29-year-old didn’t return, but because he was serving as designated hitter instead of playing his usual third base position, he was never officially taken out of the game. He wound up taking swings in the cage and declared himself fine and even said he would’ve been able to bat had his spot in the lineup come up again.

“It was scary, but I’m good,” he said afterward.

Davey Martinez didn’t hesitate to put Candelario back in the lineup for tonight’s game against the Mets, penciling him back into the No. 3 spot and at third base.

NEW YORK – It’s been a rough week at the plate for the Nationals. Even in their victories over the Rockies at home, they needed to rally in the eighth and ninth to pull ahead. In fact, they have scored only three runs (two of those unearned) in the first six innings of their last five games. That’s got to change at some point, right?

Perhaps it will tonight against Carlos Carrasco, who enters with a 5.82 ERA, having just been roughed up by the Red Sox for five runs and 10 hits in only 2 1/3 innings six days ago. The Mets right-hander has yet to face the Nationals this season, so there’s no recent track record in either direction.

Davey Martinez has two changes to his lineup: Stone Garrett starts in left field, even against the righty, instead of Corey Dickerson. And Riley Adams gets the nod behind the plate, with Keibert Ruiz resting and presumably set to start Sunday’s series finale.

Patrick Corbin gets the start for the Nats, and he could use a good one after allowing six runs (five earned) on 10 hits his last time out against the Rockies. Corbin did pitch well against the Mets earlier this season, allowing two runs over six innings. His biggest challenge tonight: Keeping Pete Alonso in the yard. The New York slugger (who blasted two home runs Friday night) is 14-for-40 with five homers in his career against Corbin.

WASHINGTON NATIONALS at NEW YORK METS
Where: Citi Field
Gametime: 7:10 p.m. EDT
TV: MASN, MLB.tv
Radio: 106.7 FM, MLB.com
Weather: Chance of storms, 88 degrees, wind 14 mph out to right field

NEW YORK – Luis García has faced 14 pitchers at least 10 times in his major league career. He’s had far more success against one of them than anyone else. And the identity of that one opponent may surprise you: Max Scherzer.

Yes, over the course of 11 head-to-head plate appearances against the three-time Cy Young Award winner and likely future Hall of Famer, García has six hits. One of those was a double. Two of them were homers.

Put that all together, and you’ve got a 1.727 OPS against one of the greatest pitchers of this generation. Even García has to smile and laugh when asked how he’s managed to do that.

“To be honest, I can’t even tell you,” he said, via interpreter Octavio Martinez. “I feel like maybe I go in there with greater focus, because it is Max Scherzer, and he’s a very good pitcher. I think one of his best pitches, if not his best pitch, is his fastball. And I’m a good fastball hitter, so maybe that’s it.”

García certainly handled Scherzer’s fastball well Friday night. He mashed one of them 406 feet to deep right-center, producing the Nationals’ one and only run off the 39-year-old right-hander during a 5-1 loss to the Mets.

NEW YORK – Josiah Gray managed to pull it off Thursday night, playing with fire but emerging unscathed for six scoreless innings. MacKenzie Gore tried to pull off the same feat tonight at Citi Field, until he finally got burned at a most inopportune moment.

After pitching out of jams in each of his first four innings, Gore couldn’t pitch out of his last one in the fifth. The Nationals left-hander hung a slider to Pete Alonso and watched the ball soar to left field, the decisive three-run blow in what wound up a 5-1 loss to the Mets that might've been even more damaging had Jeimer Candelario suffered a significant injury in the top of the eighth.

Candelario, fortunately, appears to be fine after getting twisted up sliding into second base while trying to stretch a single into a double and briefly feeling discomfort in his left shoulder.

On that aggressive baserunning play with his team down four runs, Candelario beat the throw to second but had to try to touch the base with his left hand after his feet got twisted up. In the process, he grabbed second base umpire Vic Carapazza, and that caused whatever pain he felt in his own arm, prompting him to motion to the dugout for assistance. 

"Everything's good, everything's good," Candelario insisted. "I just tried to come back, but the umpire was right there. It's part of the game. It was scary, but I'm good."

NEW YORK – It’s a rare thing to see a Nationals lineup without Joey Meneses in it. Aside from two games he missed in May for the birth of his son, Meneses has been on the bench only five times this year.

He’s got tonight off, though, as manager Davey Martinez looks to field what he thinks may be a better matchup against Max Scherzer and simultaneously give Jeimer Candelario a chance to rest his feet.

With Meneses sitting, Candelario is serving as designated hitter against the Mets. That opens up third base for Ildemaro Vargas.

“I wanted to give Candy a DH day,” manager Davey Martinez said. “Facing Max, the slider can be tough. So I’m just giving him a day.”

Candelario has been taking a beating in recent weeks, getting hit by pitch four times in his last 14 games and also taking a bad-bounce grounder off his right thumb, resulting in a bone bruise that knocked him out of the lineup for two days.

NEW YORK – This isn’t the first time the Nationals have faced Max Scherzer since trading him away two years ago. This is actually the fifth time they’ll face their former ace, the second time this season. And Scherzer has done quite well against them, going 3-0 with a 2.78 ERA and 22 strikeouts in 22 2/3 innings.

But this may not be the same Scherzer we’ve seen in the past. He just turned 39 on Thursday. He’s given up four or five runs in three of his last four starts. His 4.20 ERA is his worst since 2011, and the two homers he’s surrendering per nine innings represents the worst rate of his career.

Making tonight’s matchup all the more compelling is the fact the Nationals send MacKenzie Gore to the mound. Former ace vs. potential future ace. Gore has a long way to go to show up in the same sentence as Scherzer, but he has shown plenty of glimpses of his dominance this season. For example, he’s allowed zero or one run in eight of his 20 starts. The problem: He’s allowed five or more runs in four of his last eight starts.

So which version of Gore will show up tonight? And will he be able to outperform Scherzer? Should be a fun one.

WASHINGTON NATIONALS at NEW YORK METS
Where: Citi Field
Gametime: 7:10 p.m. EDT
TV: MASN2, MLB.tv
Radio: 106.7 FM, MLB.com
Weather: Clear, 87 degrees, wind 10 mph out to left field

NEW YORK – It was easy to focus on the manner in which the Nationals lost Thursday night’s game to the Mets, 2-1. Both runs allowed came off the bullpen, which had to adjust on the fly after a sudden downpour halted play with the bases loaded in the bottom of the eighth inning before Kyle Finnegan could throw his first pitch.

Davey Martinez, though, recognized the larger problem with Thursday’s game. It had nothing to do with the Nats pitching staff. It had everything to do with their lineup.

“We’ve got to start swinging the bats,” the manager said. “We’ve got guys on third base with less than two outs, in games like this, those runs are important. We’ve got to have better at-bats, any way you can to get the ball in the outfield. We’ve got to do a better job of that.”

The only run the Nationals scored in this game came in the top of the sixth, and it wasn’t exactly a rousing rally that made it possible. CJ Abrams drew a leadoff walk and then stole second. Jeimer Candelario reached on catcher’s interference. Joey Meneses singled through the left side of the infield to load the bases. And Keibert Ruiz then lofted a ball to right field for the sacrifice fly that scored Abrams.

That’s all they managed all night. Even though there were opportunities for more.

NEW YORK – Kyle Finnegan trotted in from the bullpen, took the ball from Davey Martinez and began warming up for what was about to be the biggest moment of the night. The bases were loaded with one out in the bottom of the eighth, the Nationals and Mets were tied and Finnegan was going to have to try to pitch his way out of this jam and send the game to the ninth still tied.

And then before he could actually throw his first pitch to Mark Canha, Finnegan turned to his right and saw the Citi Field grounds crew racing into action. Umpires motioned to everyone to get off the field. The PA announcer instructed fans to take cover. And this tie ballgame was thrust into a most untimely delay just moments before the skies over Flushing opened and dumped torrential rain and wind onto the now-covered field.

By the time it was finally OK to play again, some 97 minutes later, Finnegan was back on the mound, ready to face that bases-loaded jam again. And though the Nats closer did his job, it wasn’t enough to prevent the eventual winning run from scoring.

Canha’s sacrifice fly to right on Finnegan’s fifth pitch was enough to lift the Mets to a wild, 2-1 victory at the end of a long and strange night at the ballpark.

"As a a reliever, you're constantly getting warmed up and then sat down," Finnegan said. "So I just played it like that. I was fine. No issues."