NEW YORK -- Early in the season, a Mets-Nats series in late August looked like it might be meaningful baseball. Washington started the season as the favorite to claim the National League East, while the Mets flashed the signs of a contender when they opened with 11 wins in their first 12 tries.
But things have changed. The Nationals didn't live up to their billing, and symbolically threw in the towel earlier this week by trading away Daniel Murphy and Matt Adams. And New York took a very bad turn after its very good start.