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The Mets' 2026 season has been largely a disappointment, but don't tell that to this current iteration of the team.

Following Saturday's 5-4 win over the Nationals, the Mets are 8-3 since the trade deadline. They are playing with confidence and getting contributions from all veterans and youngsters alike.

While Francisco Lindor's walk-off single to cap off the Mets' comeback win will garner headlines, the shortstop made sure to give his teammates credit for setting him up in the ninth.

Down one run, Brett Baty worked a walk before Jorge Polanco -- mired in an offensive slump -- lined a single before Francisco Alvarez doubled to tie the game. After A.J. Ewing struck out, Lindor came up with the chance to win the game.

"By the time I stepped into the box, I already knew what to do," Lindor said after the win. "Just seeing how the guys worked the counts, it was a much easier plan and approach once I saw everything happening the way the guys went about it."

"That's a game-winner!"

Gary and Keith on the call for the Mets' comeback in the 9th inning! 🎙

➡️ @Novigpic.twitter.com/zsKhnSd5LQ

— SNY (@SNYtv) August 16, 2026

It wasn't a perfect game for Lindor, however. He made a baserunning mistake that cost the Mets an out and a baserunner. Lindor owned up to it to interim manager Andy Green, who praised the shortstop for how he handled it.

"You don’t play perfect baseball when you are on a winning streak. But you don’t let that moment impact the next moment," Green said. "Lindor literally came up to me and owned a baserunning mistake, but he didn't let it impact the game-on-the-line at-bat. That's a championship-caliber player. That's what you want out of your whole team."

Similar to Friday's series opener against the Nats, Lindor's fielding error caused Washington to take the lead. But Lindor made up for it later with a solo shot to tie the game, which eventually led to a win for New York. Lindor's baserunning error didn't cause him to fail to come through when the team needed him the most.

Lindor's walk-off was the 10th of his career, and his first this season. He finished 2-for-4 on Saturday, continuing his torrid pace at the plate. Over his last 25 games (since July 19), Lindor is slashing .309/.407/.588 with seven home runs, four doubles, a triple, 20 RBI and 15 walks. His .995 OPS ranks third in the NL in that span.

That offensive output from Lindor has contributed to the Mets' recent winning ways. And it's not just the winning, but the way the Mets are winning that's drawing attention. There's a visible energy among the players, both with the veterans and the youngsters. Lindor has noticed it and believes it has contributed to this stretch.

"Good vibes, good energy. Guys feeding off each other, guys jumping after strikeouts," Lindor quipped. "It’s a good time right now; we just have to keep up the energy, keep playing for each other and see what happens."

Although the Mets are still way below .500 (55-69), the players want to win as many games as they can. And Lindor believes that can only benefit the team moving forward.

"The more games [the youngsters] can play, the better," Lindor said. "It’s been a tough year here for everybody. They’re seeing the year’s not done. We play to win…that’s what they’re doing. They are trying to win every single day. Even when we were losing, they got a little bit upset because they wanted to win. It’s important not just for them, but for everybody."

Lindor, who is playing his sixth season with the Mets, is not surprised by the recent success. He believed this team should have been playing this way all season; it just didn't happen for them.

Of course, Lindor's calf injury took him out for nearly two months and contributed to the team's tough start, but the vision for what the 2026 Mets could have been is revealing itself, at least to Lindor.

"To be quite honest, we had all these guys. Felt like [president of baseball operations David Stearns] did a good job, we just didn’t play well in the beginning," Lindor said. "Everyone who has been here has been in the organization from the beginning, pretty much. This is baseball. In the beginning, we didn’t come through; we didn’t execute and now we are."

The Mets will look to complete the three-game sweep on Sunday.

Texas Rangers @ West Sacramento Athletics

Saturday, August 15, 2026, 8:40 PM CDT (105.3 The Fan / Rangers Sports Network)

Sutter Health Park

LHP MacKenzie Gore vs. RHP J.T. Ginn

Go Rangers!

The A’s got back into the win column last night with the series-opening win against our division rivals, the Texas Rangers. They need all the wins they can get in their quest for the playoffs but the A’s won’t make it easy for them or anyone else the rest of the way. Spoiler hats on, people

Taking the ball tonight for the home team is right-hander J.T. Ginn. The righty is set to make his third start since returning from the IL with a blister issue (and 22nd total start this year). There’s been some bumps here and there but overall Ginn has broken out this year and solidified his spot in the rotation for the long haul. His 3.41 ERA easily leads the team but he’s also in unchartered territory in regards to his innings. He’s already set a career-high with 121 1/3 IP but Kotsay doesn’t seem concerned about that in the slightest after asking for six full frames his first two times back off the IL.

Here’s how the Athletics’ starting nine looks this evening in the middle game:

As expected no Jacob Wilson tonight after he left the game in the second inning last night. Alika Williams is covering shortstop tonight. The team is also giving regular left fielder Tyler Soderstrom the start off with a left-handed pitcher on the opposing mound, but he’s almost certainly available off the bench for a late-game pinch-hit situation.

Center fielder Henry Bolte is leading things off this evening, followed by Zack Gelof (LF) and Jeff McNeil, who is hitting third after his 4-for-5 showing last night. They’re followed by tonight’s DH Jonah Heim and Tommy White, who is back in the lineup and at first base. Lawrence Butler is back in right field and Max Muncy is handling third base, with veteran Brian Serven catching Ginn.

As for Texas, they’re sending lefty MacKenzie Gore to the bump in this one. Texas’ big offseason acquisition has had a so-so season in his first year for the Rangers. In 25 starts the 27-year-old has a 4.43 ERA, which isn’t horrible but not what they were hoping for when they acquired him in late January right before camp. He’s pitched better over his past few starts, and has only allowed one run in two assignments this month. Hopefully the A’s aren’t running into him right when he’s figuring things out.

And the Rangers’ lineup:

If the Green & Gold can take it tonight they’ll make it two in a row for just the second time since the All-Star Break. Time to secure win #49. Let’s go A’s!

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After a thrilling 5-4 comeback victory over the Washington Nationals - capped off by a Francisco Lindor walk-off RBI - Mets interim manager Andy Green, SP Sean Manaea, RP Jefry Yan, and RF Carson Benge shed light on the team's recent turnaround.

Finding ways to win

The interim skipper beamed with pride as he talked about how his players have shown resilience lately.

"You don't play perfect baseball on winning streaks," Green explained. "You make mistakes, but you don't let that moment affect the next moment."

Green pinpointed some examples of this from the latter stages of Saturday's win.

"Lindor came up to me and owned his baserunning mistake [of being caught stealing in the eighth inning], but didn't let it affect his game-winning at-bat. We also had two guys [Jorge Polanco and Francisco Alvarez] with tough days at the bottom of our lineup who got big hits in the ninth inning."

Another moment which looms large in hindsight was Benge gunning down Andrew Pinckney attempting to score from third base on a sacrifice fly, a double play which got the Mets out of the seventh inning and kept them within one run of the Nats.

Carson Benge shows off his strong arm again! 🚀

He throws out Andrew Pinckney at home! pic.twitter.com/XlsAiov2di

— SNY (@SNYtv) August 15, 2026

"It's amazing. I don't know how to describe it. He's automatic right now," said Manaea of the run-saving play by Benge.

Meanwhile, when asked about his arm strength and accuracy on these throws to home plate from right field, Benge himself mused that "It's probably my pitching [background]... I've translated it to the outfield pretty well."

Good vibes all around

Yan's arrival in the new-look Mets bullpen has been an undeniable feel-good factor for both his teammates and the fanbase.

"I want to thank the team," Yan relayed through his interpreter following his spotless performance on Saturday. "When I got into the dugout [entering the bottom of the ninth], I said 'let's fight back and win this game', and we were all together."

"I'm grateful for the opportunity to go out, have fun, and enjoy the game. It's helped me pitch with a little less pressure."

Manaea, Benge, and Green all echoed Yan's sentiment.

"We're playing free and easy," stated Manaea. "We're trying to make the most out of [this season], with young guys stepping in and playing well... it's been a lot of fun to be a part of."

"We're having fun and looking forward to coming to the field each day," Benge declared.

"When you have the resilience to know it will be hard at times, that's the foundation for winning baseball. You want to develop habits that induce winning going forward," Green concluded.

Former outfielder Reggie Smith was inducted into the Legends of Dodger Baseball on Saturday in a pregame ceremony. The observance included the three other members of the first quartet of teammates in major league history to each hit 30 or more home runs in a single season.

A switch-hitter who went to Centennial High in Compton, Smith spent six of his 17 major league seasons with the Dodgers. 

Smith homered 32 times in 1977. That same year, Steve Garvey finished with 33 home runs, and Dusty Baker and Ron Cey with 30 each. The team went on to reach the World Series, where it was beaten in six games by the New York Yankees.

The Legends of Dodger Baseball was established in 2019 to honor former players who don’t have their numbers retired because they’re not in the Hall of Fame. Smith was presented with a commemorative jacket by the late Tommy Lasorda’s daughter, Laura Lasorda.

“It’s a special meaning to me because I got to wear the same uniform as my boyhood hero,” the 81-year-old Smith said.

In his speech, Smith asked the Dodgers to similarly honor Bill Russell and Dave Lopes, who passed away last year.

Other speakers included Baker and Rick Monday, who played alongside Smith on the Dodgers from 1977-81.

Monday noted that he and Smith played against each other in football, with Monday playing for Santa Monica High and Smith for Centennial.

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“I will not relive the scores of those games because I don’t want Reggie to stand up and celebrate again,” Monday joked.

Former Dodgers owner Peter O’Malley was part of the ceremony, as were current manager Dave Roberts, and former players Orel Hershier, Manny Mota, Steve Yeager, Kenny Landreaux, Jerry Reuss, Charlie Hough, Derrel Thomas, Jerry Royster and Russell.

The Colorado Rockies had a nice little win streak going entering this afternoon’s game. That momentum came to a screeching halt a few innings into the game as Logan Webb and the San Francisco Giants played spoiler.

The Rockies looked like they might solve Webb, getting out to an early lead and positioning themselves to hang in a close game. A long, painful fourth inning for Michael Lorenzen made the game much less close, and the Rockies failed to string together any additional offense after their lone run in the third.

An early but fleeting advantage

The first inning gave a glimpse at why Webb has been able to go deep into games this season. He got Jake McCarthy to fly out in three pitches, struck Cole Carrigg out in six, and got Mickey Moniak to ground out after five.

Lorenzen worked his first faced batter, Drew Gilbert, into an 0-2 count but then fell behind to walk him. He bounced back, recording the next two outs, before walking Jung Hoo Lee. He peppered in a lot of fastballs early, but especially struggled to land his changeup. Despite the two walks, he recovered and worked out of the jam. Still, this marked his eighth consecutive start throwing at least 20 pitches in the first inning.

Webb and Lorenzen both had strong second innings. Webb allowed a single but added two more strikeouts and faced no real pressure. Lorenzen had a 1-2-3 inning of his own, making quick work of the side.

Three straight hits in the third swung the game. It all started with Ezequiel Tovar’s 500th career hit. Tovar got the Rockies rolling with a bloop single into shallow right.

McCarthy followed that up with a nearly identical shot to the same part of the field. Tovar took advantage of the single and broke for third, a decision that would quickly pay off. Carrigg came up next and nailed a grounder that got through into left field, scoring Tovar and putting the Rockies up 1-0.

Unfortunately, that lead didn’t last long.

The Giants’ first hit of the game was a big one. Gilbert slammed a solo home run over the right field wall to tie the ballgame in the bottom half of the inning. The Rockies were unable to regain the lead in the top of the fourth inning

It all falls apart in the fourth

Runs are hard to come by in Oracle Park and against Logan Webb. The Rockies got an early lead and kept the Giants within arm’s reach for a third of the game. Unfortunately, one bad inning was all it took. The wheels came off in the fourth inning, dropping the Rockies to a six-run deficit.

Back-to-back singles from Lee and Oslevis Basabe started things off. Lorenzen walked Drew Cavanaugh on five pitches to load the bases, putting the Rockies in a tough spot with no outs. Turner Hill, making his MLB debut, got his first career RBI with a sacrifice fly to start the damage.

Lorenzen continued to struggle with control, hitting Buddy Kennedy with a pitch to re-load the bases. There was a brief glimmer of hope that the Rockies could hold things at 2-1. Christian Koss grounded into a force out resulting in Basabe being thrown out at home for the second out. But the inning just wouldn’t end.

The story of Lorenzen’s outing today was an inability to finish, whether that was an at-bat or an inning. Despite getting ahead in the count against most batters, he couldn’t always shut them down. Despite persevering in the fourth and getting the second out, he couldn’t quite wrap things up. A two out single scored two and ended his day with the Rockies falling behind 4-1 and with more of Lorenzen’s baserunners still on.

Parker Mushinski entered and struggled. A series consisting of a single, a wild pitch, and another single put the Giants ahead 7-1. When it was all said and done, the Gigantes brought 11 batters up to the plate and scored six times.

Lorenzen’s day finished after just 3.2 innings pitched with six earned runs on four hits, jumping his ERA up to 7.08. Despite throwing 49 strikes out of his 82 pitches, he didn’t have the command when it mattered and finished with three walks to one strikeout.

After the game, Warren Schaeffer commented on Lorenzen’s struggles with finishing the job: “A lot of 0-2 counts. He just had a tough time putting guys away. I just think the story of the day was he got ahead and just couldn’t finish em. Lots of foul balls and (the Giants) kept the at-bats alive. They battled today.”

Lorenzen said the same, pointing to foul balls and balls in play: “The past few games I’ve just had trouble putting guys away. I get in the good counts. I’m working deep counts and then a ball is in play. Then you start falling behind.”

Colorado’s offense caught in a Webb

The gameplan coming into today was clear. Webb has managed a number of low scoring starts into deep innings this season. If the Rockies were to have any sort of a chance, they needed runs on the board early and to consistently convert baserunners into runs. It felt like they might pull it off early, but their production against Webb fizzled out extremely quickly.

After allowing the Rockies lone run in the third inning, Webb flipped a switch and retired the next 11 straight batters with ease before being replaced in the top of the seventh. It was a nearly flawless, vintage Logan Webb performance.

Four of his six innings pitched were quick 1-2-3 innings as the Rockies struggled to solve his pitch selection. Webb used a small but (obviously) effective mix of pitches: a four-seam fastball (30%), changeup (26%), cutter (24%), sweeper (14%), and sinker (6%). Schaeffer applauded Webb’s ability to hit all areas of the strike zone with his pitches, noting that “we just had no answer for him today.”

He logged seven strikeouts through the game, with four of those coming on his four-seamer. He managed a 50% whiff rate on the fastball, using it efficiently throughout. His cutter had the Rockies fooled as well. He got opposing batters to swing and miss on 12 pitches (compared to just five from Lorenzen).

His day ended with a line that the Rockies hoped to avoid: a quality start with six innings pitched, the one run on four hits, and those seven strikeouts without a walk to go along with them.

A numbers game

There were a few big milestone numbers hit today on both sides.

• As mentioned earlier, Tovar notched his 500th career hit which then turned into his 250th career run.
• Connor Norby, acquired in the Victor Vodnik trade, got his first hit as a Rockie.
• For the Giants, Hill got his first MLB RBI but will have to wait on his first hit.
• Among his K’s, Webb logged career strikeout 1,100.

The number that the Rockies didn’t hit? Win 50 on the season. They’ll try again to hit that milestone in the series finale tomorrow.

Outside of milestones, the number that defined the day for Colorado was 0, as several key bats in the lineup ended the day with O-fers. Zac Veen, Brett Sullivan, and Moniak were 0-for-3 (before Adael Amador pinch hit and went 0-for-1) and TJ Rumfield went 0-for-4.

Another defining number was 11: The number of Rockies strikeouts today. Every single Rockie with an at-bat today logged at least one strikeout (Veen had two). Not ideal.

Up Next

We’ll see you here tomorrow at the same Rockies time on the same Rockies channel. Colorado and San Francisco meet for the last time this season with another 2:05 p.m. MDT first pitch on Sunday.

For this one, two pitchers still looking for their first win of the season duke it out.

Gabriel Hughes gets the start for the Rockies, currently sitting at 0-4 through six starts, with a 5.61 ERA, a 1.277 WHIP, and 31 strikeouts.

The Giants will send out right-hander Blade Tidwell who is 0-0 in just two starts and 10 total games. He carries a 2.78 ERA, a 1.103 WHIP, and has thrown 19 strikeouts.

With the season series tied at six wins apiece, tomorrow will also decide which team wins the head-to-head battle for 2026.

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The Mets’ season has hardly been a party, but celebratory moments are still worth celebrating.

One such snapshot was Franscisco Lindor at second base Saturday, swarmed by teammates after smashing a walk-off RBI single in the ninth inning for a 5-4 Mets victory over the Nationals at Citi Field.

“It’s been a tough year for everybody here, but [the young players] are seeing that the year is not done,” Lindor said. “We have got to fight to win.”

The victory was the Mets’ eighth in 11 games since the trade deadline. It was also their most dramatic over that stretch, with a contribution from Jorge Polanco, whose ninth-inning single helped fuel the winning rally.

Polanco had been 0-for-3 with two strikeouts to that point and heard boos from a home crowd far from satisfied by his .424 OPS this season.

Francisco Alvarez’s RBI double against Yovanny Cruz tied the game before Lindor delivered his first walk-off RBI this season.

“It felt like Stearns did a good job, it’s just we didn’t perform at the beginning,” Lindor said, referring to president of baseball operations David Stearns’ roster construction. “Now we’re in a situation where guys are performing, playing better and everybody who has been in the organization from the beginning and the guys that weren’t, they were acquired by the front office.”

Lindor, after drawing a leadoff walk in the eighth, was thrown out at second trying to advance on a pitch in the dirt. He apologized to interim manager Andy Green in the dugout.

“That’s a championship-caliber player,” Green said. “That is what you want out of your whole team, and I think we have seen that time and time again.”

Lefty reliever Jefry Yan, in his Citi Field debut, performed his strikeout dance three times over 1 ²/₃ scoreless innings.

“I felt really welcomed today,” Yan said of the fan reaction.

Sean Manaea was victimized by one pitch, a sweeper that Brady House hit off the left-field foul pole in the sixth for three runs, snapping his streak of four straight quality starts. Overall, the left-hander allowed four earned runs on six hits and two walks over 6 ²/₃ innings with seven strikeouts.

Jared Young’s two-run double in the first inning got the Mets started after Brad Lord walked the bases loaded to start his afternoon. A.J. Ewing, Lindor and Carson Benge drew the walks before Young delivered his latest clutch hit.

He began the day with an .889 OPS over his previous 30 games, giving the Mets stability at first base. Young was 15-for-36 (.326) with runners in scoring position entering the day.

Andrés Chaparro homered leading off the fourth to slice the Mets’ lead to 2-1. Manaea worked ahead 0-2 in the count before throwing a four-seamer that Chaparro crushed beyond the left-field fence.

Manaea plunked Andrew Pinckney in the sixth and walked Chaparro before House lofted a sweeper to left field that hit the foul pole for a three-run homer that gave the Nationals a 4-2 lead.

It marked the first time in five starts that Manaea surrendered multiple homers in a game.

“The season is going to come and go and we’re just trying to make the most of it,” Manaea said. “I think a lot of the young guys are coming in, stepping in and playing acceptably well. As a team we’re playing a lot better baseball than we did the first few months.”

Benge homered leading off the bottom of the inning against lefty reliever Tom Cosgrove.

Benge’s arm helped save the Mets a run in the seventh: his strong throw to the plate easily nailed Pinckney attempting to score from third on Dylan Crews’ fly ball to right.

The assist was Benge’s sixth this season.

“I didn’t think he was going to go on that one, but I still know I have got to finish the play and got to go quick,” Benge said. “So, after I saw him kind of running after I let go of the ball, I was kind of excited for it because I knew he would be out.”

The Mets completed a ninth-inning comeback today against the Nationals, and they won 5-4. Sean Manaea worked six-plus innings again, and the bullpen helped to give the offense a chance to stay in the game right until the end.

After Manaea retired the side at the top of the first inning, A.J. Ewing led off the bottom of the first with a walk. Ewing then stole second base during Francisco Lindor’s at-bat, and Lindor walked as well. Carson Benge walked out to load the bases with one out. Next up , Jared Young slapped an RBI double into left field to bring home Ewing and Lindor. Marcus Semien bounced a ground ball to C.J. Abrams, playing shortstop, and Abrams threw the ball to tag Benge out at home for the second out. Brett Baty worked the fourth walk of the inning, prompting a change of pitchers for the Nationals. Will Dion replaced Brad Lord and struck out Jorge Polanco to end the inning, but the Mets led 2-0.

Manaea allowed a single to Jacob Young at the top of the second inning, but otherwise continued to stifle the Nationals’ batters. After both pitchers kept things quiet for a while, Andrés Chaparro smacked a home run into left field to lead off the fourth inning. At the bottom of the fourth, Semien walked but was still on first when the inning ended. At the top of the sixth inning, Manaea hit Andrew Pinckney with a pitch and, with one out, walked Chaparro. Brady House doinked a ball off the foul pole for a three-run home run that looked like it would be a foul ball, but put the Nationals ahead instead. After Abrams grounded out, Manaea walked Harry Ford, but Daylen Lile flied out to Benge to stop the bleeding, with the score Nationals 4, Mets 2.

At the bottom of the sixth, Tom Cosgrove replaced Dion. Benge led off with a home run to right field. Immediately afterwards, Young laid down a bunt that Cosgrove could not field quickly enough, and Young made it to first base safely. Baty grounded into a double play that ended the inning, but the score was now 4-3. Manaea returned for the top of the seventh, and he allowed a lead-off single to Nasim Nuñez. However, Manaea helped catch Nuñez stealing on a rundown for the first out. Pinckney then hammered the ball into right field, and as it bounced off the wall and past Benge, Pinckney slid into third base for a triple. At this point, Dedniel Núñez replaced Manaea on the mound. He got Dylan Crews to fly into a double play in right field; Benge caught the ball for the second out and threw it home to Francisco Alvarez, who tagged Pinckney for the third out to end the top of the inning and the scoring threat.

At the top of the eighth inning, Núñez returned and allowed a lead-off single to pinch-hitter Abimelec Ortiz. He struck out House, but was then replaced by Jefry Yan. Yan retired the next two batters and ended the top of the inning quickly. At the bottom of the eighth, Clayton Beeter came out to pitch for the Nationals. Lindor tapped a ground ball into center field for a single. He tried to advance to second on a wild pitch, but Ford, the Nationals’ catcher, grabbed the ball quickly for a throw to second to get Lindor out. Bichette lined a single into center field immediately after this. Benge walked, and another wild pitch from Beeter moved the runners to second and third. Unfortunately, Young struck out, and Semien grounded out to end the inning and strand Bichette and Benge with the scores still Nationals 4, Mets 3.

Yan returned for the ninth inning and retired the batters in order, keeping the score close and giving the Mets a chance at the bottom of the inning. Yovanny Cruz replaced Beeter at the bottom of the ninth, and he walked Baty to lead off. Polanco drilled a single into right field, and Baty moved to second. Christian Pache came out to pinch-run for Polanco as Alvarez came out to bat. With no outs yet, Alvarez slapped a line drive down left field for an RBI double, and Baty scored to tie the game 4-4. Luis Robert Jr. came out to pinch-run for Alvarez. After Ewing struck out, Lindor came to the plate and whacked a fly ball into right field for a walk-off single to win the game Mets 5, Nationals 4.

The final game of the series starts tomorrow at 1:40 PM. Christian Scott will pitch for the Mets, and Jake Irvin will pitch for the Nationals.

SB Nation GameThreads

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Box scores

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Win Probability Added

Fangraphs

What’s WPA?

Big Mets winner: Francisco Alvarez, +35% WPA
Big Mets loser: Sean Manaea, – 32% WPA
Mets pitchers: -13% WPA
Mets hitters: +63% WPA
Teh aw3s0mest play: Francisco Alvarez’s RBI double, +41.6% WPA
Teh sux0rest play: Brady House’s 3-run home run, -38.1% WPA

Right fielder Kyle Tucker will not be in the Los Angeles Dodgers' lineup for Saturday's game against the Milwaukee Brewers at Dodger Stadium.

“Being at home right now, I can see the frustration,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said in explaining the decision. “I felt that for him (it was best) to use today as a work day, and he will be back in there tomorrow (for the series finale against the Brewers).”

Roberts stated Tucker will remain in the lineup when the Dodgers hit the road for a three-game series against the Colorado Rockies.

“I don’t think he even realized (his frustration) until recently, when I think people brought it to light, but the fact is that the splits are stark (between home and road)."

The Mets walked off the Washington Nationals thanks to a heroic late-game comeback, a 5-4 win on Saturday afternoon at Citi Field.

New York has won 10 of their last 13 games, including the first two games of their three-game series against their NL East division rivals this weekend.

Here are the takeaways...

-- The Mets jumped all over the Nats' right-handed starter Brad Lord. Lord recorded just two outs in the first inning before being pulled. He walked the bases loaded, and with one out in the inning, lefty first baseman Jared Young sliced a double the opposite way, the ball bouncing into the left-field corner as A.J. Ewing and Francisco Lindor came around to score. After walking the bases loaded yet again, the Nationals called upon left-handed reliever Will Dion to record the final out of the inning, escaping the jam.

-- Dion continued onward, eating crucial innings for the Nationals after Lord's start when awry. He struck out six of the first seven Mets batters he faced, allowing zero runs across 64 pitches, the most he had thrown at any point this season in both the major and minor leagues. He tallied seven total strikeouts, allowing one walk and no hits across his 4.1 innings pitched.

-- Southpaw starting pitcher Sean Manaea had an up-and-down outing. He was stellar through five innings, having allowed one run - an Andres Chaparro solo shot in the fourth - on two hits while striking out seven batters. However, Manaea unraveled in the sixth. He plunked Andrew Pinckney, walked Chaparro, and then served up a hanging breaking ball to Brady House for the righty to turn on. House's 380-foot three-run shot clanked off the foul pole in left field and turned the game on its head. Manaea eventually got out of the inning with the Mets trailing 4-2. 

-- The Mets responded immediately in the bottom half of the sixth. Facing lefty sidearmer Tom Cosgrove, Benge cranked the second pitch he saw 372 feet into the right field bleachers. The rookie's 14th of the season cut the Nats' lead to 4-3.

-- Manaea was pulled in the seventh for Dedniel Nuñez after surrendering a one-out triple to Pinckney. Dylan Crews' fly ball to right field was caught by Benge, who fired a perfect throw to catcher Francisco Alvarez to beat the tagging Pinckney, a remarkable double play to end the inning. Manaea's four earned runs allowed across 93 pitches increased his 2026 ERA to 4.23.

-- Jefry Yan relieved Nuñez in the eighth, retiring both batters he faced and striking out Harry Ford looking with a low fastball to end the inning with the Mets still behind 4-3. Ford made up for it in the bottom half of the frame, pouncing on a Clayton Beeter pitch in the dirt and unleashing a barehanded throw to catch Lindor trying to steal second. Young stepped up to the plate with one out and two Mets in scoring position. During the at-bat, both runners moved up a base - to second and third - on a Beeter wild pitch, but Young struck out swinging. Marcus Semien grounded out to short to end the threat.

-- In the top of the ninth inning, Yan retired the side, punching out two Nats. Yovanny Cruz, a right-handed reliever whom the Nationals acquired at the trade deadline from the Yankees, walked Brett Baty to lead off the inning. Jorge Polanco kept the line moving by roping a single into right field. Alvarez looped the first pitch he saw, a hanging breaking ball, into left field for a double. Baty scored easily and Cristian Pache - inserted as a pinch runner for Polanco - motored around to third base. With nobody out and Mets baserunners on second and third, Ewing struck out. It was Lindor who played the hero, driving Cruz's pitch into right field to score Pache and complete the Mets' 5-4 comeback victory.

Game MVP: Francisco Lindor

This was Lindor's fourth walk-off RBI as a Met, and his first since April 18, 2025.

Highlights

Two strikeouts for Sean Manaea in a 1-2-3 first inning 🔥 pic.twitter.com/haWw6CQrbP

— SNY (@SNYtv) August 15, 2026

Stay hot, Jared Young!

He brings in two runs with a double! pic.twitter.com/4b6TnMy4GJ

— SNY (@SNYtv) August 15, 2026

Seven strikeouts in five innings for Sean Manaea 💪 pic.twitter.com/FAj67VsBov

— SNY (@SNYtv) August 15, 2026

Carson Benge launches his 14th home run of the year! 🍎 pic.twitter.com/4xAQ0cQX3k

— SNY (@SNYtv) August 15, 2026

Carson Benge shows off his strong arm again! 🚀

He throws out Andrew Pinckney at home! pic.twitter.com/XlsAiov2di

— SNY (@SNYtv) August 15, 2026

Jared Young makes the diving stop! pic.twitter.com/ICN4VsIa4c

— SNY (@SNYtv) August 15, 2026

Jefry Yan goes airborne as he strikes out Harry Ford pic.twitter.com/n5t7MfKBI9

— SNY (@SNYtv) August 15, 2026

FRANCISCO ALVAREZ TIES THE GAME! pic.twitter.com/1DxH2I9ctX

— SNY (@SNYtv) August 15, 2026

FRANCISCO LINDOR WALKS IT OFF!

METS WIN 5-4! pic.twitter.com/v3itEfDu5J

— SNY (@SNYtv) August 15, 2026

What's next

The Mets will go for the sweep of the Nationals on Sunday afternoon, with first pitch set for 1:40 p.m.

For the Mets, Christian Scott (3.45 ERA, 1.30 WHIP in 78.1 IP) will toe the slab.

Jake Irvin (5.79 ERA, 1.32 WHIP in 65.1 IP) will take the mound for Washington.