New York at Washington

The Mets have totally collapsed. They had a 7.5 game lead on September 10, and have watched it disappear and are now clinging to a 1.5 game lead with the Phillies winning six straight. The Mets have given up 31 runs, have made countless errors and the bullpen is in shambles and over-worked. The last seven games have featured the Mets’ pen yielding 25 runs in 25 innings. The starters aren't getting it done, and the pen is coughing it up as well. They now call on rookie Mike Pelfrey to stop the bleeding. The Mets are just 3-9 in his starts on the season - not the type of pitcher you want to throw into what has become a pennant race. Pelfrey has given up 13 hits, 4 BBs, and a hit batter in his last 7.1 innings, or 2.5 base runners per inning. The Nationals have pounded the Mets’ staff for 21 runs in the first two games and send Matt Chico to the hill tonight. The Nats are 11-5 when he starts at home, and Chico has pitched well of late, not yielding more than four earned runs in any of his last nine starts, and just once in his last 15 home starts. The Nats bring out the brooms and sweep the series.