This matchup features two NL East rivals that aren’t likely to make the playoffs as the New York Mets face the Washington Nationals on the road in game two of a two-game series in which the New York Mets won by a score of 11-5.

The New York Mets aren’t going to make the playoffs as the Mets are 26.5 games behind the Atlanta Braves for 1^st place in the NL East and trail the Cincinnati Reds by 7.5 games for the final Wild Card spot in the National League. New York has three of their first four games in September including an 11-5 win on the road against the Washington Nationals in game one of the series on Tuesday. Four of the 11 runs for the Mets were scored in the 1^st inning which included a three-run home run hit by Francisco Alvarez which also scored Francisco Lindor and Mark Vientos.

Washington has a record of 62-77 entering this matchup which is the 3^rd worst record in the National League and trails the Cincinnati Reds by ten 10 games for the final Wild Card spot in the National League and the Atlanta Braves by 29 games for 1^st place in the NL East. The Nationals are on a six-game losing streak which includes Tuesday’s 5-11 loss at home against the New York Mets in game one of the series. Four of the five runs for the Nationals came in the 8^th inning which included Alex Call scoring off a base hit from Jacob Young. 

BookMaker has the New York Mets listed as -125 money line favorites on the road against the Washington Nationals on Wednesday in game two of the series. New York has won seven of the last ten and two of the last three games in the series while winning by an average margin of .9 runs per game over the last ten and 1.33 runs per game in the last three matchups.

Neither pitcher has been great this season as the Mets will send Jose Butto to the mound while the Nationals will send Joan Adon to the mound in a battle of the rookies on Wednesday in game two of the series. Butto is 0-2 this season with a 4.30 ERA while recording ten strikeouts while Adon is 2-1 on the year with an ERA of 5.90 and has recorded 23 strikeouts.

Jose Butto is 0-2 with a no-decision in his last three starts this season while allowing a total of six runs and recording eight strikeouts in those starts with the most recent start coming against the Pittsburgh Pirates with Butto allowing three runs and striking out five in a loss.

In his last three starts this season, Joan Adon is 1-1 with a no-decision while allowing a total of 11 runs and striking out nine in those matchups. Adon’s last start came at home against the Miami Marlins in which he allowed five runs and struck out three batters in a loss.

Neither team is having a great season, however, New York is still the more talented team and has won seven of the last ten and two of the last three games in the series, while winning by an average margin of .9 runs per game over the last ten and 1.33 runs per game over the last three matchups. I look for that trend to continue which is why I am taking the money line for the New York Mets at -125 for this matchup on BookMaker.