Francisco Lindor acting as 'cheerleader' for Mets' meeting with Nats

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The New York Mets survived one game without Francisco Lindor as he deals with a lower back injury, eking out a victory to grab sole possession of a playoff position.

The Mets will likely be without Lindor again on Tuesday and attempt to withstand the shortstop's absence when they host the Washington Nationals in the middle game of a three-game set.

New York (82-68) holds a one-game lead over the Atlanta Braves for the National League's third wild-card spot after Starling Marte hit a game-ending RBI single with one out in the 10th inning in Monday's 2-1 win over the Nationals.

Marte's hit clinched a winning season for the Mets, who have 11 walk-off wins this year and have 20 victories in their past 29 games, a stretch that includes a nine-game winning streak.

With his back pain flaring up on both Friday and Sunday, Lindor had to make a pair of early exits in games against the Phillies. He didn't play at all against Philadelphia on Saturday. Before Monday's meeting with Washington, an MRI showed no structural damage.

"I don't want to be in this position, but I believe in my teammates," said Lindor, who has missed only two games this season. "I believe in what they can do and I'll be the biggest cheerleader probably the next couple of days."

Jose Iglesias started at shortstop for Lindor in the series opener vs. Washington and will likely do so again on Tuesday. Iglesias had two of New York's six hits, including a game-tying RBI single in the eighth on a night when Pete Alonso, Brandon Nimmo, Mark Vientos and Francisco Alvarez were a combined 2-for-15.

The Nationals (68-82) are 6-4 in their past 10 games and took solace in Jake Irvin pitching 7 1/3 outstanding innings to help contain the Mets' offense in a playoff atmosphere. Washington's only run Monday came on an RBI single by Jose Tena in the fourth, and the Nationals had four other hits, went 1-for-10 with runners in scoring position and struck out 10 times.

"The guys played really well," Washington manager Dave Martinez said. "They really did. We made some good plays defensively. They hung in there. You know this team is known to put some runs up on the board. They didn't (Monday) thanks to Jake and our pitching. It all came down to a couple of key at-bats, we couldn't get the job done."

After getting seven stellar innings from Sean Manaea on Monday, the Mets hope to see Tylor Megill (3-5, 4.48 ERA) continue to pitch well since his return to the rotation on Aug. 30.

Megill is 1-0 with a 2.35 ERA in three starts since returning to the majors and logged his second scoreless outing of the season on Sept. 9 by allowing one hit in six innings in a no-decision during the Mets' 3-2 win against the Toronto Blue Jays.

The right-hander is 4-2 with a 5.83 ERA in seven career appearances (six starts) vs Washington.

Mitchell Parker (7-9, 4.24), who is 0-2 with a 4.12 ERA in his past four outings, starts for Washington after getting consecutive no-decisions.

After lasting 3 1/3 innings in Washington's 8-6 win over the Pittsburgh Pirates on Sept. 7, Parker allowed two unearned runs in 6 1/3 innings during the Nationals' 6-3 loss to the Miami Marlins on Thursday.

Parker's only previous career start against the Mets was on July 3 in Washington. He allowed five runs and five hits in six innings for a no-decision.

--Field Level Media