Wire Taps: Sean Doolittle meltdown costs Nationals in opener vs Mets; Stephen Strasburg sets franchise strikeout mark + more

It didn’t end like the Nationals wanted it to end. Sean Doolittle took the mound with a three-run lead and gave up four, and Washington dropped another one to New York in the first of three in Citi Field. If you, for some reason, want to relive it, go read your links...

NATS BEAT:

No Doo No!!:

Doolittle can't close out Mets as Nats fall in NY - (MLB.com)
"The crowd was deafening, especially when the Mets did their damage against right-hander Stephen Strasburg early and rallied against Doolittle late."

Mets shock Nats with four runs in ninth off a stunned Doolittle - (MASN)
"The game was set up for closer Sean Doolittle to do what he has done 25 times already this season for the Washington Nationals."

Nationals revert to painful ways of May, blow three-run lead in ninth for 7-6 loss to Mets - (WaPost)
"Sean Doolittle allowed a three-run homer to tie it, then New York rallied against him a second time to score its 14th win in 15 games."

Other Nats Stuff:

Scherzer throws on flat ground; back feels good - (MLB.com)
"Scherzer wanted to also throw a bullpen session Friday, but the team said no, according to manager Dave Martinez."

Max Scherzer could throw 'pen session Saturday; Anthony Rendon's toe "is fine" - (MASN)
"There had been a preliminary plan to have Scherzer throw a bullpen today, but Martinez wanted to take the starter’s progress at a more methodical pace."

Max Scherzer’s return to the Nationals remains on hold - (WaPost)
“He’s progressing,” Manager Dave Martinez said. “If he feels up to it tomorrow, he might throw a bullpen. We’ll see how he feels.”

Stras becomes franchise's all-time K's leader - (MLB.com)
"By striking out three batters in the first three innings, Strasburg passed Steve Rogers for the most strikeouts in franchise (Nationals/Expos) history."

NATIONAL(S) BEAT:

Why Asdrubal Cabrera's son was a factor in Nats signing - (Yahoo!Sports)
"Cabrera mentioned his son, Meyer, twice during the interview, and how much it hurt him that the Mets didn’t re-sign his father."

Poll: Will Stephen Strasburg exercise his 2020 option? - (MLB Daily Dish)
"Strasburg has two decisions to make in the next two years..."

MLB: Mets show no fear against Nats closer Sean Doolittle - (Yahoo!Sports.com)
"'We felt that the whole inning,' Mets third baseman Todd Frazier told Yahoo Sports after the game. 'Dom Smith was telling us the whole time we got up in the ninth inning, we’ve got him, we’ve got him before, let’s get him again.'"

RADIO HITS:

Joe Ross, with two dominant starts, a 'pitcher in transition' - (106.7 The Fan)
"Nationals fans are witnessing a 'pitcher in transition,' GM Mike Rizzo says of Joe Ross, who's coming off two dominant starts, his best MLB outings since he returned from Tommy John surgery."

Mike Rizzo on Max Scherzer's return: 'I don't think it's too much longer' - (NBC Sports Washington)
"Max Scherzer may be inching closer toward a return with the Washington Nationals."