The Mets head to DC for the final series of the 2026 season. It’s been a disappointing season for the Mets, who started the year with World Series aspirations. Things fell apart fairly quickly, but since the trade deadline the Mets have been playing better ball and creating hope for next season. A few players have some major milestones they can still reach over the next few days.
The big mystery is the weather. There’s a nor’easter that will mostly be impacting Jersey to Boston, but DC is not completely out of the woods. Hopefully the Mets will be able to play these last three games.
Justin Hagenman has pitched in two games this season totaling four innings allowing two runs on three hits while striking out two. Last season he pitched in nine games totaling 23 2/3 innings with a 4.56 ERA, 3.77 FIP, 1.099 WHIP and a 90 ERA+. Overall in the minors this season he has pitched 19 1/3 innings with a 3.26 ERA. He’s been stretching it out a bit in his last two starts, going four innings in each start allowing only two runs on four hits over eight innings. This will be his first time facing the Nationals and anyone on the Nationals roster in a Major League game.
Andrew Alvarez has pitched in 24 games making 16 starts for the Nationals pitching 108 innings with a 3.17 ERA, 3.13 FIP, 1.259 WHIP and a 136 ERA+. In his last two starts he has not allowed any runs over 13 innings while striking out 16 batters. In two starts against the Mets this season he allowed four runs over nine innings. The Mets have the following career stats against Alvarez:
- Francisco Alvarez 1-3, 2B, BB, K
- Brett Baty 0-1, BB
- Carson Benge 0-3
- Bo Bichette 1-4, K
- A.J. Ewing 0-4, 2 K
- Francisco Lindor 2-4, HR, BB
- Nick Morabito 0-1, K
- Christopher Morel 1-2, K
- Marcus Semien 0-4
- Juan Soto 2-4, HR, K
- Luis Torrens 1-3
- Mark Vientos 0-4, K
Three Things To Watch For:
- Juan Soto in Washington. It’s been a few seasons now since the Nationals traded Juan Soto to the Padres. That trade brought over key parts of the Nationals lineup C.J. Abrams and James Wood to Washington and set Soto off on a journey that eventually led to the Mets signing him. Especially after the reception that Mets fans gave Pete Alonso, I’m just curious to hear the reaction to Juan Soto even if it has been four seasons.
- Homeruns not doubles. The Mets hit two doubles Thursday in Texas. I’ve been looking at box scores most of the season and thought they’ve been hitting a lot of doubles this season and I was so wrong. Just so wrong. The Mets have 205 doubles in 2026, which is good for 29th in the league, five ahead of the Mariners and 80 behind the league leading Kansas City Royals. This is interesting because the Mets are ninth in the league in home runs, despite getting off to a miserable start hitting home runs this season.
- Milestones. It’s the final three games of the season! Francisco Lindor has been sitting at 299 home runs since September 12th. Carson Benge is only one home run away from a 20-20 season. Juan Soto is three home runs and monster series away from a 30 home run season.
Let’s Go Mets!
