September 17 – The New York Mets, without Francisco Lindor because of a lower back injury, managed to win a game and clinch their only postseason berth.
The Mets will likely be without Lindor again on Tuesday and will try to absorb the shortstop’s absence in the middle of a three-game set against the Washington Nationals.
Competing for the National League’s third wild-card spot, New York (82-68) beat the Atlanta Braves 2-1 on Monday after Starlin Marte hit an RBI single in the 10th inning.
Marte’s hitting has capped the entire season for the Mets, who have won 11 games this year and 20 of their last 29 games, including nine in a row.
Lindor was forced to miss two games against the Phillies on Friday and Sunday because of worsening back pain. He didn’t play at all against Philadelphia on Saturday. An MRI showed no structural damage ahead of Monday’s meeting with Washington.
“I don’t want to be in this position, but I trust my teammates,” said Lindor, who has missed just two games this season. “I believe they can do it and I’ll probably be their biggest cheerleader for the next couple of days.”
Jose Iglesias started at shortstop for Lindor in the series opener against Washington and will likely do so again Tuesday. Iglesias had two of New York’s six hits, including a game-tying RBI single in the eighth when Pete Alonso, Brandon Nimmo, Mark Viento C and Francisco Alvarez combined to hit 2 of 15 shots.
The Nationals (68-82) improved to 6-4 in their last 10 games, with Jake Irvin pitching 7 1/3 innings to help stem the tide in a playoff atmosphere, finding solace from City’s offense. Washington’s only run came on Josh Turner’s RBI single in the fourth on Monday, and the Nationals had four other hits and put runners in scoring position and were 1-10 with 10 strikeouts.
“These guys played really well,” Washington head coach Dave Martinez said. “They certainly did. We made some good plays defensively. They hung in there. You know this team is known for getting some results at the plate. Credit to Jake and our pitching, they didn’t do that (Monday).”
After Sean Manaea threw seven excellent innings on Monday, the Mets will hope to have Tyler Megill (3-5, 4.48 ERA) back for the first time since Aug. 30. The Japanese has continued to perform well since returning to the rotation.
Megill is 1-0 with a 2.35 ERA in three starts since returning to the majors, allowing one run in six innings in the Mets’ 3-2 win on Sept. 9. The hit was his second scoreless outing of the season.
The right-hander has a 4-2 record with a 5.83 ERA in seven career games (six starts) against Washington.
Mitchell Parker (7-9, 4.24), who is 0-2 with a 4.12 ERA in his last four starts, starts for Washington after consecutive no-decisions.
After going 3 1/3 innings in Washington’s 8-6 win over the Pittsburgh Pirates on Sept. 7, Parker allowed two runs himself in 6 1/3 innings in the Nationals’ 6-3 loss to the Miami Marlins on Thursday.
The only previous start of Parker’s career came against the Mets in Washington on July 3. He allowed five runs, five hits in six innings and got a no decision.
–Visual-level media
