Overview

• The Mets blew a 3-0 lead in a 9-3 loss at Washington, dropping the series and making it 16 losses in their last 21 games.
• New York sits seven games behind Philadelphia in the division and holds a half-game edge over Cincinnati for the final NL wild-card spot.
• Francisco Alvarez has a sprained right thumb that will require surgery but plans to try playing after an IL stint, while Brandon Nimmo missed Thursday with a stiff neck and Jeff McNeil pinch-hit despite a sore right shoulder.
• Manager Carlos Mendoza pointed to starting pitching as the core issue, with Kodai Senga posting a 6.00 ERA over his last six starts and Sean Manaea failing to reach six innings in eight straight outings.
• Soto voiced full confidence in the club despite going 0-for-8 with five strikeouts over the final two games in D.C., hitting .247 with 31 homers as New York heads to Atlanta before hosting the Phillies and prioritizes the wild-card route.