Tuesday, August 19, 2025 • 6:45 PM
Nationals Park • Washington, DC
LHP David Peterson (7-5, 3.30) vs. RHP Jake Irvin (8-7, 5.14)
SNY

“And if we again tomorrow, it’s called a winning streak … It has happened before” – Major League

Winning is the answer to all ills in baseball, and the Mets have the chance to go on a three-game winning streak if they beat the Nationals in the series opener. On Saturday, the Mets held onto a 3-1 lead thanks to a tremendous major league debut for Nolan McLean. Sunday, the Mets rolled through the Mariners in the Little League Classic, playing a version of small-ball that kept the line moving and built frustration in the Mariners. Let’s keep the momentum going tonight in DC!

David Peterson (23) Credit: Brett Davis-Imagn Images

Mets Lineup

  1. Francisco Lindor, SS
  2. Juan Soto, RF
  3. Brandon Nimmo, LF
  4. Pete Alonso, 1B
  5. Jeff McNeil, 2B
  6. Mark Vientos, DH
  7. Brett Baty, 3B
  8. Luis Torrens, C
  9. Cedric Mullins, CF

It’s redemption night for David Peterson! Over 136 1/3 innings and 23 starts, Peterson has a 3.30 ERA, 3.49 FIP, 1.276 WHIP and a 120 ERA+. Peterson had a streak of six starts in a row, going at least six innings heading into his last start. Last time out, he pitched only 3 1/3 innings, allowing six runs from five hits and five walks (tied a season worst). In his last two starts, he has been tagged for 10 runs over 9 1/3 innings. On June 11, Peterson pitched a complete-game shutout against the Nationals! The Nationals have the following career numbers against Peterson:

Opposing Lineup

  1. James Wood, LF
  2. CJ Abrams, SS
  3. Paul DeJong, 2B
  4. Josh Bell, DH
  5. Riley Adams, C
  6. Dylan Crews, RF
  7. Andrés Chaparro, 1B
  8. Brady House, 3B
  9. Jacob Young, CF

Jake Irvin has started 25 games and pitched 140 innings with a 5.14 ERA, 5.40 FIP, 1.379 WHIP and an 80 ERA+. August has been brutal for Irvin, allowing 14 runs (13 earned) over 13 1/3 innings from 23 hits (including four home runs). The last time he faced the Mets, he allowed four runs over five innings on five hits. Earlier in the season, he held the Mets to only one run over 7 1/3 innings, scattering five hits. The Mets have the following career stats against Irvin:

  • Pete Alonso 2-15, 2B, 2 BB, 5 K
  • Francisco Alvarez 2-14, 7 K
  • Brett Baty 0-4
  • Francisco Lindor 6-16, 2 2B, HR, 3 K
  • Starling Marte 1-2, K
  • Ronny Mauricio 0-1
  • Jeff McNeil 3-13, BB, K
  • Cedric Mullins 0-5, K
  • Brandon Nimmo 5-17, 2 HR, 2 BB, K
  • Juan Soto 2-6, HR, 2 BB, 2 K
  • Tyrone Taylor 1-9, 2B, 2 K
  • Luis Torrens 0-2, 2 K
  • Mark Vientos 1-12, 2 K

Game Notes

  • Before Tuesday’s game, Francisco Alvarez was placed on the 10-day IL with a right thumb UCL sprain. Hayden Senger was recalled to take his place. The team also officially released RHP Paul Blackburn.
  • Mets manager Carlos Mendoza noted Alvarez will need surgery. The team will see if he can play through it, however, if not, he will need to have season-ending surgery.
  • Tuesday’s matchup between the Mets and Nationals will be the first featuring two Venezuelan managers (Carlos Mendoza and Miguel Cairo for Washington).

Three Things To Watch For

  1. Home runs. The Mets won on Sunday on small ball early and a Mark Vientos three-run homer in the middle of the game to break it open. It feels like tonight is a good night for the Mets to hit some bombs. Jake Irvin leads the league in home runs allowed at 27, which is good for a 1.7 HR/9. That’s also not too far off from his previous season marks at 1.4 and 1.5 HR/9. He’s allowed four home runs over three starts this month, and he allowed two homers his last time out against the Mets.
  2. Francisco Lindor. There are not enough words to describe how hot Lindor is right now. He now has five consecutive multi-hit games and six consecutive on-base at least two times. Over this stretch, he has gone 14-for-25, which is just absurd, with three doubles, three home runs, seven RBIs and seven runs (.560/.607/1.040). The Mets have been failing Lindor over the last two games. He’s had five hits but hasn’t scored any runs.
  3. Mets Catching Situation. Francisco Alvarez is heading to the injured list due to a thumb injury from a slide against the Mariners. Alvarez was one of the hottest hitters in the Mets lineup recently, going 6-for-12 in three games against the Mariners, hitting two doubles, a home run, recording five RBIs, and scoring four runs. Since August 10, Alvarez went from hitting .242/.339/.364 to .265/.349/.438. Now the Mets will need to lean on Luis Torrens. Torrens is hitting .214/.280/.301 with a 68 ERA+. Torrens has had some big games this year and is already at 1.0 bWAR, tied for 2021 as a career best.

Let’s go Mets!