Jacob deGrom exceled again as the Mets took a good look at Max Scherzer on Sunday afternoon in what could turn out to be an Opening Day preview.

The Mets jumped on Scherzer, scoring four runs off the veteran, and extension candidates Francisco Lindor and Michael Conforto both homered to cap off a solid offensive performance for the boys in orange and blue.

On the mound

The aforementioned deGrom took the ball for New York on Sunday afternoon in what could be a glimpse into the Opening Day pitching matchup between the two teams just 11 days from now. 

In a 23-pitch first inning, DeGrom allowed a single to Trea Turner and a walk to Josh Bell. DeGrom would get out of the inning unscathed, collecting strikeouts of Victor Robles and Kyle Schwarber.

In the second inning, DeGrom allowed a double to Nationals catcher Yan Gomes with one out in the frame. Gomes did not advance, as a ground out and subsequent strikeout of Max Scherzer ended the inning.

DeGrom pitched an easy 1-2-3 third inning with two groundouts and a flyout. In the fourth the right-hander allowed a lead-off single to Bell and walked Gomes with two outs before Jordy Mercer flew out to end the inning.

New York’s ace collected back-to-back strikeouts to start the fifth inning before being pulled after 63 pitches. Miguel Castro came in to replace deGrom and struck out Juan Soto to end the inning. 

Overall, deGrom impressed again, striking out five Nationals while surrendering three hits and walking two batters, and didn’t allow a run. His spring training ERA is now 0.66.

Edwin Diaz pitched a 1-2-3 sixth inning collecting one strikeout. Diaz has been excellent this Spring, allowing no runs in four innings while striking out six batters.

Dellin Betances relieved Diaz in the seventh inning and pitched his most impressive inning of the Spring thus far. Betances induced two groundouts and struck out Mercer to end the inning. This clean inning is his first of the spring and lowered his ERA to 10.80.

Robert Gsellman came in to pitch the bottom of the eighth inning and labored. The right-hander allowed back-to-back singles to Blake Swihart and Andrew Stevenson before walking Yadiel Hernandez to load the bases. Two runs would score on an infield single from Yasmany Tomas and an RBI ground out from Carlos Tocci.

Gsellman continued to pitch the ninth inning and immediately worked his way into trouble again. He hit the lead off batter and surrendered a double to Adrian Sanchez leaving runners on second and third with no outs. Gsellman locked in and stranded the runners on two flyouts and a strikeout to end the game. 

At the plate

The Mets threatened to score off Scherzer in the first inning. Brandon Nimmo drew a lead off walk and Dominic Smith doubled to right-center. Unfortunately for the Mets, neither would score as Michael Conforto and Pete Alonso failed to bring them home.

To begin the fourth inning, Conforto launched his first home run of Spring to deep center field. Later in the inning Jeff McNeil and J.D. Davis both collected singles leaving runners on the corners with two outs. McNeil would come around to score on a wild pitch. Tomas Nido then struck out to end the inning. 

The Mets added two more runs in the fifth inning. Francisco Lindor crushed his third spring home run of the week, a two-run shot giving the Mets a 4-0 lead. Lindor began the Spring 0-for-7, but he is now 10-for-25 with three home runs and nine RBI.  

In the sixth inning, Nationals pitcher Tanner Rainey walked the bases loaded with one out. New pitcher Kyle Finnegan immediately surrendered a two-run double to the pinch hitter Mallex Smith, Smith’s first RBI of the spring.

On deck

The Mets will travel to West Palm Beach to play the Houston Astros on Monday afternoon. The first pitch will be at 1:05 p.m. The game will be televised on ATT SportsNet and broadcast on KMBE 790 AM/94.5 FM HD-2.

Joey Lucchesi (0-0 0.00 ERA) will make his second official start of the Spring coming off three hitless innings his last time out. He faces off against southpaw Kent Emanuel.