Washington at New York

The Mets are doing their best to not only cough up the NL East, but to get the golf clubs out early. The Mets’ staff has resembled a police blotter full of arsonists down the stretch. They have been lit up for 104 runs in their last 14 games, or just about 7.5-runs per game. They have lost games while scoring 7, 8 and 9 runs and are 5-9 in a pennant drive. The Nationals are having fun and hitting the Mets pitching all over Shea Stadium, producing 23 runs in the first two games there. The Mets have to turn to rookie Phillip Humber to stop the bleeding. Humber was recalled on Sept. 1 when the rosters were expanded and pitched just three innings since, so you have to wonder about his stamina and command at this point. He last worked in a one-inning relief stint way back on Sept. 11. Mike Bacsik has pitched well against the Mets as he has a 1.74 ERA in three games over 10 innings. We like the Nats to keep life miserable for the Mets.