Wire Taps: Nationals done with Mets; Nats and Braves start big series; Max Scherzer keeps building...

The season series with the New York Mets is over, and the Washington Nationals won a total of seven of 19 games with their NL East rivals, while winning six of 12 from the NL East’s first-place Braves so far, nine of 14 from the Phillies (with five to play), and 13 of 16 from Miami so far this season. So what was the issue with the Mets?

“It was just one of those things,” Nats’ skipper Davey Martinez said after the series finale vs New York on Wednesday.

“It think they scored six or seven or eight more runs than us throughout the course of the series, but their pitching is good, our pitching is good, I think we match up well, they got the better hand on us.”

[ed. note - “They scored 13 more runs, actually, though it was nine before yesterday’s 8-4 win for NY.”]

“But hey,” Martinez said, “we move on, here we go, we get some rest, and then go play the Braves.”

NATS BEAT:

Nationals vs Mets finale:

Mets bounce back after epic meltdown - (Washington Times)
"Washington is more than pleased to say good riddance to the New York Mets, who have had the Nationals’ number all year."

Hours after historic comeback, Nationals can’t recapture the magic in 8-4 loss to Mets - (WaPost)
“'Whatever it may be, they had our number,' shortstop Trea Turner said."

Nats fall in last regular-season meeting vs. Mets - (MLB.com)
"But if there is a takeaway from Tuesday night’s improbable six-run comeback, it’s that these Nationals should not be counted out."

No late heroics this time from Nats, who fall to Mets - (MASN)
"Yes, the Nats trailed the entire way, by as many as six runs in the sixth inning. But given what happened Tuesday night on South Capitol Street, that hardly felt like an insurmountable deficit."

Other Nats Links:

Nats’ stretch run promises more lessons from book of baseball: Don’t get too high or low - (WaPost)
"Exhilaration, inspiration then exasperation all arrived at Nationals Park in just 18 hours. Baseball is not for the faint of heart."

The Nationals need to solidify their left-handed specialist situation — and fast - (WaPost)
"The Washington Nationals’ chances worsened with almost every pitch Roenis Elías threw to a left-handed batter on Tuesday night."

MLB games on YouTube are nice, but far from enough to grow the sport - (Washington Times)
I don’t envy commissioner Rob Manfred and his fellow Major League Baseball decision-makers, trying to make baseball more appealing to younger fans while not alienating older fans.

Braves to host Nats for critical NL East series
“'It will be the biggest game to date on Thursday,' Braves manager Brian Snitker said. 'Anytime we play that club, it’s a dogfight and tough. It’s two good teams going at it.'"

'Roles be damned': Nats GM Mike Rizzo breaks down Nationals' historic win - (NBC Sports Washington)
"Washington Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo joins the Sports Junkies and breaks down the Nats historic walk-off win against the New York Mets..."

NATIONAL(S) BEAT:

Here's what 2020 MLB 'superteams' could look like - (MLB.com)
"If the Nationals lose Anthony Rendon -- and we'll get to him -- they should have some money to spend, so why not try the same trick they pulled last time: Replace a beloved position player with the top free-agent pitcher on the market."

Scherzer Trying to Re-Maximize Momentum - (Fangraphs)
"It was the first time Scherzer had gone six innings or thrown at least 90 pitches in a start since July 6."

Max Scherzer is trying to get back to Cy Young form before the postseason - (Yahoo!Sports)
"It’s possible the Nationals season is riding on whether the 35-year-old can pitch like he’s the best in the world yet again."

Nationals: Aaron Barrett's emotional return to the big leagues complete - (USA TODAY)
“'There’s definitely been times I didn’t think positively. I was in a dark place for a long time,' says Barrett."

Juan Soto crouches on two strikes. Does it work? - (Beyond the Box Score)
"His low chase rate is the primary driver of his ability to draw a walk, but Soto has another strategy he employs."

NY Mets protect lead and defeat Washington Nationals to take series - (NorthJersey.com)
"Nothing seems safe or inevitable after what transpired on Tuesday. If that were the dagger in New York's season, then another such gut-punch would have been the funeral."

LEADING OFF: Strasburg vs Braves, Lorenzen does it all - (USA TODAY)
"Strasburg is 4-1 with a 3.21 ERA in five career starts at SunTrust Park. Max Fried (15-4, 4.09) pitches for the Braves, who have won six straight."