Opposite dugout: Mets in search of wild card berth

Manager: Terry Collins (6th season)

Record: 69-65

Last 10 games: 7-3

Who to watch: CF Yoenis Cespedes (.297 with 27 HR, 68 RBIs), SS Asdrubal Cabrera (.272 with 113 hits), RHP Bartolo Colon (12-7, 3.35 ERA), RHP Noah Syndergaard (12-7, 2.55 ERA), RHP Jeurys Familia (2.60 ERA with 44 saves)

Season series vs. Nationals: 4-9

Pitching probables:

Sept. 2: RHP A.J. Cole vs. RHP Noah Syndergaard, 7:10 p.m., MASN2
Sept. 3: RHP Tanner Roark vs. RHP Robert Gsellman, 7:10 p.m., MASN2
Sept. 4: RHP Max Scherzer vs. RHP Seth Lugo, 8:05 p.m., ESPN

Inside the Mets:

It wasn't long after the All-Star break that it became easy to write off the Mets. The defending National League champions headed into the break six games above .500 and within reach of the Nationals atop the NL East. But in the season's second half, the Mets took a dive and watched as the boys in D.C. surged to a commanding lead in the division.

Yet despite a so-so effort over the last few months, the Mets are still very much in the thick of the postseason race. While a repeat of the NL East crown isn't likely - the Nationals currently hold a 9 1/2-game lead in the division - the Mets are just two games behind the Cardinals for the second wild card spot. How, you might ask? An 7-3 mark in their last 10 games has helped the Mets jump from two games under .500 to four games over.

On the offensive side of things, one big reason for the inconsistencies this season has been the Mets' reliance on the longball. Entering Thursday, the Mets were second in the senior circuit with 178 home runs, including 45 hit in the month of August, their highest single-month total this year. Center fielder Yoenis Cespedes leads the team with 27 home runs, though second baseman Neil Walker and right fielder Curtis Granderson aren't far behind, tallying 23 and 22 home runs, respectively. Walker announced Thursday, however, that he'll have surgery on a herniated disc in his back, putting an end to his season. Shortstop Asdrubal Cabrera is posting a nice 2016 campaign, batting .272 and tallying 113 hits, good for the second-most on the team.

Right-hander Noah Syndergaard will start tonight's series opener opposite Nationals rookie A.J. Cole. Syndergaard is no stranger to the Nationals, having faced them three times already this season. He's 1-2 in three starts against Washington, but the 24-year-old is 3-0 with a 1.31 ERA in his last three starts overall. While the Nationals will trot out a rookie on Friday, the Mets will start one on Saturday in right-hander Robert Gsellman. There's not much sample size to go off of for Gsellman, having made only two career starts in the majors, but the young hurler has been respectable in both outings. He's 1-1 with a 3.72 ERA, and will have to be impressive when going up against Tanner Roark, who has been one of the biggest surprises on the mound this season. Fellow rookie Seth Lugo will start the series finale under the bright lights as the game was moved to ESPN's Sunday Night Baseball. Lugo began the year in the bullpen, but moved into the starting rotation in mid-August. It seems to be a good fit, too, as Lugo has amassed a 2-1 mark as a starter. In fact, he hasn't allowed more than three earned runs in any of his starts.

While the Nats have a stranglehold on the division, this series will certainly be close if it comes down to the bullpens. While Washington boasts the league's top bullpen, the Mets are close on their heels, led by closer Jeurys Familia. Familia leads the majors with 44 saves and a 2.60 ERA, while relievers Addison Reed and Jerry Blevins each sport ERAs under three. It'll be interesting to watch this weekend as the Nationals try to put their foot down to capture the NL East title while the Mets try to keep their surge going into a playoff spot.