Opposite dugout: Mets surging at right time for return to postseason

Manager: Terry Collins (6^th season)

Record: 76-67

Last 10 games: 7-3

Who to watch: CF Yoenis Cespedes (.293 average with 30 HR, 78 RBIs); SS Asdrubal Cabrera (.277 average with 125 hits); RF Curtis Granderson (26 HR, 108 hits); RHP Noah Syndergaard (13-8 with 2.48 ERA); RHP Robert Gsellman (2-1 with 3.92 ERA).

Season series vs. Nationals: 6-10

Pitching probables:

September 12: RHP Rafael Montero vs. RHP Mat Latos, 7:05 p.m., MASN
September 13: RHP Noah Syndergaard vs. RHP A.J. Cole, 7:05 p.m., MASN
September 14: RHP Robert Gsellman vs. RHP Tanner Roark, 4:05 p.m., MASN

Inside the Mets:

For the last time in 2016 - at least during the regular season - the Mets and Nationals will square off. Heading into April, most people expected these two teams to battle it out for the National League East crown. Sure enough, the Nats sit atop the division, while the Mets are holding down the final wild card spot in the senior circuit.

Each team has different agendas in this three-game series. The Nationals are attempting to secure the NL East title, and while they can't mathematically clinch the division in this series, a sweep would put them five games ahead with 16 left to play. For the Mets, meanwhile, thoughts of re-taking the NL East may be fading, but the boys from New York certainly have plenty to play for as they are jockeying for one of the two wild card positions.

The Mets are 7-3 in their last 10 games, coming off of a series win over the Braves. The offense, while ranking 28^th in the majors in team average (.243), is fifth in the league in home runs with 196. Only the Cardinals have hit more in the National League. Yoenis Cespedes leads the Mets in home runs, including a grand slam in Sunday's win in Atlanta. Right fielder Curtis Granderson has one of the strangest stat lines you'll see. Though he is second on the team with 26 home runs, the veteran has just 48 RBIs on the year along with a .224 average. We'll chalk that up to a guy who has a tremendous amount of power but hits from the leadoff spot, limiting his chances at tallying RBIs. Second baseman Neil Walker is tied for his career high in home runs and has provided a solid bat in the lineup, batting .282 with 23 home runs.

Right-hander Rafael Montero makes just his third start of the season in tonight's series opener. He's still looking for his first decision, but the Mets have won both of his starts. Montero did start against the Nationals back in 2014, but took the loss, allowing five earned runs in five innings of work. While there's no doubt the Mets pitching staff has been decimated by injuries, one of the few guys remaining from the start of the season is Noah Syndergaard. He's 13-8 on the year, including 4-1 in his last five starts, though the one blemish in that recent span belongs to a start against Washington. In fact, Syndergaard hasn't won a start against the Nationals since May 17. Maybe the key for Syndergaard is to simply keep runners off the basepaths, having issued four stolen bases to the Nats during the loss on September 2. Part of the reason the Mets took two of three from the Nationals in their previous meeting was due to the performance from Wednesday's starter, Robert Gsellman. The rookie may have an odd way to spell his last name, but he was certainly effective against the Nats in his last start, allowing just one earned run in six innings. Gsellman has made three starts on the year, all against NL East opponents.

Most fans are aware of the Mets' bullpen situation, led by closer Jeurys Familia. Familia has led the majors in saves seemingly all season, and continues to do so with 48 on the year. Oddly enough, Familia is 2-3 this season and all of his decisions have come at home, where he sports a 2.77 ERA. The scary thing is the right-hander appears to be even better on the road, where he boasts a 1.91 ERA, including a 0.00 ERA so far in September.