The Nationals reached Queens with momentum and a problem that has not gone away. After beating the Cubs 7-0 on Thursday afternoon, Washington improved to 60-63, but it is still five games out of a Wild Card spot as it opens a three-game series against the Mets.
That is why Nationals vs Mets matters now. Washington has 17 games left against teams not in playoff position, a stretch that gives the club a narrow chance to close ground if it keeps winning. The series also begins with a familiar edge: the Nationals already lead the season series 4-3, and they are trying to turn that slim advantage into something more meaningful.
Cade Cavalli was the reason Thursday felt different. He carried a no-hitter into the seventh inning and finished with eight scoreless innings, one hit allowed, two walks and 10 strikeouts. Abimelec Ortiz backed him with a three-run home run, his fourth of the season and his third in four games. Washington needed that kind of night after finishing its six-game homestand 4-2, and it got it while avoiding a sweep.
The timing still leaves little room for error. The Nationals are three games below.500, and the margin between a good week and a wasted one remains thin even after a dominant win. They also have not yet named a starter for Saturday afternoon, which keeps a small but important part of the series unsettled even as the rest of the schedule is set.
Andrew Alvarez is scheduled to start Friday night against Robert Stock, with Sean Manaea set for the Mets on Saturday afternoon and Jake Irvin slated for Washington in the series finale against Christian Scott. Alvarez is 2-3 with a 3.76 ERA, while Stock is 0-2 with a 10.13 ERA. Manaea enters at 4-5 with a 4.13 ERA, and Christian Scott is 3-3 with a 3.45 ERA. For Washington, this series is not just another stop on the calendar. It is the start of the stretch that will show whether Thursday's win was a lift or just a pause.
