The New York Mets may be without a key cog in their lineup on Thursday afternoon when they play the decisive game of their three-game series against the host Washington Nationals. Brandon Nimmo saw his seven-game hitting streak come to an unceremonious end after he exited the Mets' 5-4 loss to the Nationals on Wednesday in the second inning due to a stiff neck.

Francisco Alvarez needs surgery for a sprained ulnar collateral ligament in his right thumb, but there's a chance the New York Mets ' slugging catcher can play through the pain and help the team in the final weeks of the regular season,