Mets cling to final wild-card spot as Sproat starts against Nationals

The Mets remain in possession of the National League's final wild-card berth with nine games to play, as they open a weekend series against the visiting Washington Nationals in Queens. New York leads the season series 6-4 and is favored entering the three-game set. Washington has been eliminated from postseason contention as its season winds down.

Rookie Brandon Sproat (0-1, 2.25 ERA) is slated to start Friday for New York, his third appearance of the year. The 25-year-old has shown the ability to limit hard contact, allowing an average exit velocity of 86.2 mph against him in 10 innings. His 3.29 xERA suggests he could be due for some regression. The Nationals have had trouble producing runs all season, but they remain one of the more powerful contact clubs, ranking in the top 10 in both hard-hit percentage and exit velocity.

New York has held the upper hand in the matchup this year and will look to maintain momentum as the series shifts to Queens. The weekend set adds another layer to a tense sprint toward October, with both teams hoping to capitalize on every result as the playoff picture tightens.

FanDuel Sportsbook's current welcome offer is tied to the Nationals-Mets game: bet $5 and, if your bet wins, you receive $300 in bonus bets. No promotional code is required. To sign up, bettors select their state, complete the registration, make a deposit, and place their first bet. The offer is available in a broad set of states, with terms applying.

With nine games left, the Mets will look to turn their position in the standings into wins, while the Nationals try to avoid finishing the season on a sour note.

As the weekend series unfolds, fans will monitor pitcher matchups and the ongoing betting promotions that have become a fixture of modern baseball coverage.