Hit us with your Mets questions. We're already off to a great start. www.nytimes.com/athletic/665...

The Mets keep talking about their talent. When will we see on-field evidence of it again? www.nytimes.com/athletic/664...

As Tigers and Mets look to avoid stunning collapses, MLB’s final week should be a doozy. Column: www.nytimes.com/athletic/665...

"I can definitely believe it," Brandon Nimmo said. "It's been happening right in front of our eyes." www.nytimes.com/athletic/664...

The Reds’ win over the Cubs pulls them into a tie with the Mets, and Cincinnati holds the tiebreaker. For the first time in 170 days, the Mets are not in playoff position.

WSH 3 NYM 2 Final The Mets lost a series to the last-place Nationals for the second time in a month. They have been in playoff position for 169 straight days. Whether that gets to 170 depends on a Cubs comeback. The Mets are 80-76.

Jacob Young did it again. This took away a game-tying home run from Francisco Alvarez.

This is when you start to worry it might not go your way this week:

Mets get one run back on a wild play in which Daylen Lile crashed into the wall and couldn't complete a sliding catch. Could have been more if Cedric Mullins had kept running on the play, as he was doubled off one batter later.

Mets in another early hole after a three-run Washington second inning, which included another New York error and a two-run homer by Nasim Nunez.

Like Sherlock Holmes’ dog that didn’t bark, the most important development for the Mets Friday night was an uneventful inning:

WSH 6 NYM 12 Final The Mets rebounded from an early 4-1 deficit. Juan Soto had the big knock. Francisco Lindor scored four times. They've won 11 straight home games against the Nats. The Mets are 80-74 and two games up for the last wild card.

And in his 19th outing with the Mets, Ryan Helsley has recorded his first hold. The Mets have thought Helsley is close for a little while. That 1-2-3 seventh was as sharp as he's looked with New York.

The Reds beat the Cubs, 7-4. Mets need to hold on to a two-run lead to keep their wild-card lead at two.

Brandon Sproat's third big-league start is over after four runs in four innings. He retired the side in three frames but struggled out of the stretch in the third, when his defense was of little assistance.

With a three-run blast to center field, Juan Soto has set a new career high with 42 home runs. He's just the second Met to ever hit as many as 42 in a season, joining Pete Alonso (who's done it twice). It's 8-4 New York.

Within here, why Dylan Ross hasn't been called up yet (but might be soon) and significant injury updates on Tylor Megill and Reed Garrett.

The Mets' offense has responded. A two-out rally scored one in the third, and Francisco Alvarez's two-run double has tied it with nobody out in the fourth. It's 4-4.

They've changed this from an E8 to a 2B. So all four Washington runs in the third inning are now earned against Brandon Sproat.

The Mets' defense in the top of the third: --E1 --Failure to back up allowing an extra 90 feet --E8, two-base error --Misplay turning a single into a triple Four runs (two earned) score off Brandon Sproat. It's 4-1 Nats.

What we're hearing about the Mets' pitching plans -- for next week and the postseason, should they get there. "Everything is on the table."

SD 7 NYM 4 Final Manny Machado's grand slam off David Peterson was the difference. Juan Soto just missed a game-tying home run. The Mets' wild-card lead remains 1 1/2 games. The Mets are 78-74.

Juan Soto ties his career high with his 41st home run -- a solo shot that cuts the San Diego lead to 6-3. The 41 homers are tied for third in Mets history (with Beltran and Hundley), behind only two Pete Alonso seasons.

Manny Machado golfs David Peterson's 3-2 curveball for a grand slam. The Padres lead 6-2.

Luis Torrens is back from the IL. Hayden Senger optioned. Francisco Alvarez is in the lineup despite another HBP last night.

Francisco Alvarez's rotten luck continues: He was hit right around the left elbow by a 100 mph fastball from Bradgley Rodriguez. Alvarez was crouched over in serious pain, and he's been replaced by Hayden Senger.

Mets are teeing off on Michael King. Solo shots in the second from Lindor and Alonso. It's 7-1.

Huge first inning for the Mets against Michael King. Four straight singles to start it, then a two-run double from Jeff McNeil and two-run homer from Brett Baty with two outs. It's 5-0.

Patrick Bailey’s walk-off grand slam in San Francisco has cut the Mets’ wild-card lead to a half-game.

TEX 8 NYM 3 Final Jonah Tong couldn't get out of the first. The Mets have lost seven consecutive games on three different occasions this season. They hadn't done that since 1980. The Mets are 76-72.

DeGrom has retired 15 Mets in a row. He's through seven innings. New York hitters are 4-for-48 dating back to last night's first inning.

Jeff McNeil was ejected for arguing this called strike three. Ronny Mauricio has replaced him.

The Mets halved the deficit in the third, thanks to a Francisco Alvarez solo homer, Francisco Lindor double and two sacrifice flies. It's 6-3 through three.

Mark Vientos' second-inning single ends a run of 29 consecutive Mets that had been retired, dating back to last night.

This about sums up how the Mets have played of late.

Jonah Tong does not survive the first inning. He walked three, he gave up four his, and he's been charged with six runs so far. He threw 40 pitches. It's 6-0 Texas.

They did play "Simple Man" for Jacob deGrom at Citi Field, at the end of a video tribute during his pregame warmups in the outfield. DeGrom tipped his cap to the Citi Field crowd.

“Insane,” Jonah Tong said. “That’s everything I’ve ever dreamed of as a kid growing up.”

Jonah Tong will get another start, Carlos Mendoza said.

With a 19-5 lead, the Mets are handing the ninth inning to Luis Torrens.

Position player Javier Sanoja on the hill for Miami in the eighth. This is his seventh pitching appearance this season.

Phillies won, Reds lost. If the Mets can hold this nine-run lead, they’ll be five back in the division and five up for the wild card.

On Jonah Tong's debut:

It's 10-0 in the second inning. Tong went 25 minutes between pitches last inning, and he'll go at least 20 this time as well.

Perez is done with two outs in the first after five runs and 39 pitches. Ex-Met Tyler Zuber entering.

Jonah Tong threw six pitches in the top of the first, the Mets have scored five runs in the bottom of the first before an out has been recorded. Two-run homer for Soto, three-run shot for Nimmo off Eury Perez.

It's a 1-2-3 first inning for Jonah Tong on just six pitches.

Tong just walked in from the bullpen to Nickelback's "This Means War," one of the songs he suggested here.

The Mets have won only two World Series titles in their 63-year existence, but they are really good at cultivating hope in the form of promising young arms. Could Jonah Tong garner that belief as October looms? http://dlvr.it/TMmKfm

excited to see how these numbers look with actual arm angle rather than imputed (coming Sunday)