Game 50: Mets at Nats

Zack Littell and Andrew Alvarez are both expected to pitch for the Nationals tonight ... if the weather allows it

We already experienced a 46-minute delay due to the threat of rain before the start of Tuesday night’s game. We may be experiencing much more than that the next two days. The forecast does not look good, with a line of storms expected to arrive early this evening and then a steady rain expected to fall much of the day Thursday. As always, stay tuned for updates.

If they play as planned, it’ll be Zack Littell making the start for the Nationals, looking to build off what was by far his best outing of the season (five scoreless innings against the Orioles). The right-hander did give up some loud outs in that game, but he seems to prefer that approach to nibbling around the zone too much, which led to his troubles earlier this season. As was the case in that previous game, Andrew Alvarez is ready and waiting to take over at some point as the bulk reliever.

The Mets are sending 24-year-old lefty Zach Thornton to the mound to make his MLB debut, with only two Triple-A starts under his belt. Blake Butera is countering the new version of his right-handed-heavy lineup. That includes Curtis Mead at third base (which is now going to be his primary position following Brady House’s demotion) and Andrés Chaparro at first base (the new right-handed platoon partner for Luis García Jr.).

NEW YORK METS at WASHINGTON NATIONALS
Where: Nationals Park
Gametime: 6:45 p.m. EDT
TV: Nationals TV (channel listings)
Radio: 106.7 FM
Weather: Storms arriving, 81 degrees, wind 13 mph out to right

METS
RF Carson Benge
SS Bo Bichette
LF Juan Soto
1B Mark Vientos
DH MJ Melendez
3B Brett Baty
2B Marcus Semien
CF A.J. Ewing
C Hayden Senger

LHP Zach Thornton

NATIONALS
DH James Wood
3B Curtis Mead
1B Andrés Chaparro
SS CJ Abrams
RF Dylan Crews
LF Daylen Lile
CF Jacob Young
2B Nasim Nuñez
C Keibert Ruiz

RHP Zack Littell