The Washington Nationals close out another home date at Nationals Park on Sunday, September 27, when they host the New York Mets at 1:05 PM ET. DJ Herz gets the ball for Washington opposite Mets left-hander Sean Manaea in what shapes up as a late-season pitching matchup worth watching. With the regular season winding down, the Nationals have a chance to finish strong on their home turf in front of the D.C. faithful. Catch the action on Nationals.TV locally or on SNY if you're in Mets territory.
Pitching Matchup: DJ Herz vs. Sean Manaea
DJ Herz has been one of the more intriguing young arms in the Nationals rotation this season. The left-hander possesses a swing-and-miss arsenal, and late-September starts are exactly the kind of stage where a developing pitcher can build momentum heading into the offseason. How Herz manages his stuff and his command against a veteran Mets lineup will be one of the central storylines of this afternoon.
On the other side, Sean Manaea is a crafty southpaw who has spent years carving up lineups with a diverse pitch mix and dependable command. Facing Manaea is rarely straightforward — he works both sides of the plate and keeps hitters uncomfortable throughout a start. The Nationals lineup will need to be disciplined and patient to do damage against him.
Keys to Watch at Nationals Park
- Herz's command: When Herz is throwing strikes and mixing his pitches effectively, he can be difficult to square up. If he struggles with his command early, the Mets have enough experienced hitters to make him pay.
- Manaea's pitch mix: Washington's lineup will need to lay off Manaea's secondary offerings, particularly early in counts. Getting into favorable counts is essential against a veteran who lives off weak contact.
- Nationals bullpen management: September rosters are expanded, giving Washington flexibility out of the bullpen. How the pitching staff is deployed beyond Herz's outing could decide the outcome in the late innings.
- Offensive productivity: The Nationals will need to string together quality at-bats against a proven starter. Stringing together baserunners and capitalizing on opportunities rather than relying on the long ball will be critical.
Prediction
Sunday afternoon games at Nationals Park in late September carry a certain energy — there's a finality to the home schedule that tends to bring out focused, emotional baseball. Herz has shown flashes of being a legitimate front-of-the-rotation piece going forward, and this is a good test against a quality opponent. Manaea is the kind of pitcher who keeps games close and low-scoring. Expect a tight, well-pitched game that comes down to a handful of key moments. Give the edge to Washington on the strength of a strong outing from Herz and a timely hit or two from the lineup. Nationals 3, Mets 2.
