Washington Nationals split rollercoaster series vs. New York Mets

The Nationals fell, 2-1, on Thursday , just barely falling below . 500 and splitting the four-game slate with the division rival New York Mets. It was a tremendously up-and-down series for the Nats, as they seemingly bounced between encouraging highs and deflating lows.

Let’s take a look at a few of the key takeaways from the series. 1) Cavalli hung out to dry After some inconsistency in his last few starts, Cade Cavalli was truly excellent in Thursday’s final game. The Nats’ top starter went seven innings, striking out nine and giving up just two earned runs.

Cade Cavalli, Wicked 87mph Curveball. 🤢 pic. twitter.

com/YTu2eAzP0a — Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) May 21, 2026 The problem? Washington could only muster a lone run in support, saddling their ace with a loss in an excellent outing. The bats went cold, and Cavalli walked away with a loss after a truly excellent outing.