WASHINGTON — The Mets will piece together at least 15-plus innings of baseball Sunday with the remains of their bullpen and Max Scherzer, in that order.
The first game of a doubleheader at Nationals Park — the continuation of the matchup that was suspended Saturday with the Mets trailing, 1-0, and one out in the top of the third inning — will be a tag-team effort.
Manager Buck Showalter did not announce who will pitch (Joey Lucchesi started Saturday and went the first two innings), but mentioned Stephen Nogosek and Tommy Hunter, the two freshest members of the bullpen, as likely contributors.
The second game will be Scherzer’s after the Mets’ co-ace missed a start this past week with neck spasms.
The Mets could have moved up Scherzer for the first game, which they will play with a depleted bullpen, but they did not want to mess with his schedule.
David Peterson is still expected to pitch Monday in the finale of the four-game series for the same reason. Peterson’s presence in the rotation will allow Justin Verlander to receive an extra day of rest and open a three-game series at Citi Field against the Rays on Tuesday.
Getting through the first game, which will be a continuation from Saturday with the same roster, will be more difficult than the second.
The Mets have not yet activated lefty Brooks Raley, who is expected to be added to the roster before the second game.
Also expected to be available Sunday is Dominic Leone, who warmed up Friday and felt discomfort in his elbow, which prompted him to sit back down.
Leone arrived at the park Saturday, threw and “felt good,” Showalter said.
“We were encouraged,” Showalter said of the 31-year-old righty, who has allowed two runs in 3 ²/₃ innings. “He was going to pitch if we [re]started the game.”
For the two innings that the Mets played Saturday, they tried out a tweaked lineup.
The Nationals started righty Trevor Williams and dressed no lefty relievers, so lefty-hitting Jeff McNeil was bumped to the No. 2 spot, which has become the home of the best hitter in today’s game.
Showalter shifted switch-hitter Francisco Lindor to No. 3, and the manager did not even have to worry about stacking lefty hitters (lefty-hitting Brandon Nimmo was in the leadoff spot) at the top of the order.
“I know they don’t have a left-hander down there. I kind of like that situation more,” Showalter said.
McNeil, who never was in a starting lineup as the No. 2 hitter last season, entered play hitting .310 with an .800 OPS in his past 24 games, he and Nimmo the most consistent contributors of a lineup that has been inconsistent.
At the bottom of the order was catcher Michael Perez, making his season debut with the Mets after Francisco Alvarez had caught six games straight.
“[I wanted to] back off him today,” Showalter said of Alvarez. “Obviously, he’s been catching a lot.”
