The Latest Breaking News from Mets

These aren't the same Nats deGrom is used to facing.

WASHINGTON — The Mets’ 7-3 win over the Nationals on Monday mattered as much as any other game, and it came with the fun context of Max Scherzer facing (and beating) his former team in his former home for just the second time. But really it was just a warm-up…

Here are the top players, teams and decision-makers to keep an eye on as the clock ticks toward 6 p.m. ET on Tuesday.

MIAMI — A starting pitcher giving up 12 hits is never good.

MIAMI — It’s official. Jacob deGrom is going to pitch in a major league game.

MIAMI — Sometimes in baseball, you get a tense, back-and-forth game full of lead changes that makes each pitch feel like the most important of the game.

After more than a year of being sidelined with injuries, the Mets ace will take the mound against the Nationals next week.

A game pitting Chris Bassitt — the Mets’ leader in innings pitched — against Sandy Alcantara, the National League Cy Young frontrunner, featured seven runs in the first two innings.

By this time next week, it will all be over. We’ll know which teams acquired starting pitchers Luis Castillo, José Quintana and Noah Syndergaard. We’ll see where the Cubs sent All-Star catcher Willson Contreras and closer David Robertson, and if they dealt All-Star outfielder Ian Happ. ...

Plus, the “homework clause” in Kyler Murray’s contract is no more

When he’s not bullying opposing hitters, he’s known to set his sights on his own clubhouse. The key question is whether he can push around his own body.