Game 25 of 162
Nationals 4 - Mets 1 (Citi Field, New York)
Mets record: 14-11
Mets streak: Lost 4
WP - MacKenzie Gore (3-1)
LP - Kodai Senga (3-1)
SV - Kyle Finnegan (5)
Seat on the Korner: MacKenzie Gore
We select the star of the game and virtually invite him to a Seat on the Korner, just as Ralph Kiner used to do for his studio postgame show on WOR-channel 9 broadcasts in the early decades of the Mets.
MacKenzie Gore, who was dealt to the nation’s capital as part of the Juan Soto blockbuster trade in the summer of 2022, stymied the Mets over 6 innings. The former 3rd overall pick was marvelous in his 3rd victory of the season, fanning 10 Met hitters while only allowing 1 run on 4 hits. The 24-year-old left-hander has shown improved velocity in all three of his primary pitches thus far, however, his overall command remains an issue.
Need to Know
Kodai Senga was not at his best in New York’s 4-1 loss to the Washington Nationals, walking four batters and allowing two earned runs over five innings.
Jeff McNeil continued his hot stretch at the plate, accounting for half the Mets' hits on the night.
Starling Marte was responsible for the Mets’ only run of the game with an RBI single in the 3rd inning, knocking in Eduardo Escobar, who opened the stanza with a triple.
For the fourth consecutive game, a Mets starting pitcher was unable to complete more than five innings of work.
The Mets bullpen is showing some early indications of fatigue and strain, as both Jeff Brigham and Adam Ottavino did not look like their usual, sharp selves tonight.
The Mets will attempt to end this four-game skid tomorrow night as they send Joey Lucchesi to the mound in the final installment of this three-game set.
Turning Point
The free-swinging Washington Nationals were patient for a second consecutive night, making Kodai Senga labor from the very first pitch on. Despite a scoreless opening half, the Japanese right-hander was not as fortunate in the 2nd inning. Senga walked two Nationals’ hitters and gave up three consecutive hits, leading to the first two runs of the game. With the Mets unable to show life on offense during this recent stretch, an early two-run deficit was not what the boys in blue and orange were hoping to see.
3 Keys
Senga’s free pass problem
Kodai Senga’s walk rate is now twice the league average. The 30 -year-old right-hander has only completed 6 innings on one occasion and his propensity to issue free passes is the root cause of that.
Sloppy defense
After committing only seven errors in their first 24 games, the New York Mets' defense struggled Wednesday night as their three errors served as a microcosm for yet another poor all-around performance.
Squandered opportunities
While the Mets' offense has struggled over this four-game losing streak (9 total runs), the opportunities have been omnipresent. Take tonight, for example, where two leadoff walks in the bottom half of the 7th inning were left stranded after the top of the Mets’ order was unable to capitalize.
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