Mets' Nolan McLean carries spotless home mark into start vs. Nats

The New York Mets are finally starting to look like a playoff-caliber team -- and not a moment too soon.

The New York Mets are finally starting to look like a playoff-caliber team -- and not a moment too soon.

The Mets will look to lock up a series win and further cement their grip on the third National League wild-card spot on Saturday when they host the Washington Nationals in the middle game of a three-game series.

Nolan McLean (4-1, 1.19 ERA) will aim to continue the impressive start to his career when he takes the mound for the Mets against fellow rookie right-hander Cade Cavalli (3-1, 4.76).

The Mets overcame an early three-run deficit on Friday. Francisco Lindor hit the tiebreaking RBI single during a six-run fourth inning as New York prevailed 12-6.

Juan Soto followed with a three-run homer -- his career-high 42nd long ball of the year -- as the Mets (80-74) remained two games ahead of the Cincinnati Reds in the race for the final NL wild card. The Reds (78-76) beat the visiting Chicago Cubs 7-4 on Friday.

The Mets continued a timely resurgence that has seen them outscore the Texas Rangers, the San Diego Padres and Washington 35-19 while winning four of their past five games.

New York was outscored 47-20 during an eight-game losing streak from Sept. 6-13 that reduced their wild-card lead to a half-game. The Mets are just 35-50 since June 13, which is tied for the fourth-worst record in the majors in that span.

"Just focusing on small things -- trying to compete every single pitch," said Mets left fielder Brandon Nimmo, who went 2-for-5 with two RBIs on Friday. "The guys are really, really battling on the small little (things) -- that includes baserunning, that includes defense, that includes hitting and pitching."

A little of everything went wrong on Friday for the Nationals (62-92), who clinched coming in last (or tied for last) in NL East for the fifth time in six seasons with the loss and the Atlanta Braves' 10-1 win over the Detroit Tigers.

The Nationals were held scoreless on two hits over the final 4 2/3 innings by a quintet of Mets relievers after CJ Abrams' two-run homer cut New York's lead to 8-6 in the fifth. Washington committed three errors, all of which led to runs.

The 12 runs were the most surrendered by the Nationals since Aug. 5, when they fell 16-7 to the Athletics.

"It didn't come our way, but it happens," interim Nationals manager Miguel Cairo said. "And I know they're going to come back (Saturday) and fight again."

McLean didn't factor into the decision in his most recent start, when he tossed six scoreless innings in the Mets' 5-2, 10-inning win over the Rangers on Sunday. His ERA through six starts is the lowest by a New York starter in team history.

The 24-year-old has yet to permit a run through three home starts, the first pitcher in Mets history to accomplish that feat. In 19 1/3 innings at home, he has yielded 11 hits and six walks while striking out 21.

Cavalli also didn't receive a decision on Sunday after giving up three runs over five innings in the Nationals' 4-3 win over the Pittsburgh Pirates.

McLean has never opposed the Nationals, and Cavalli has never faced the Mets.

--Field Level Media