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Nationals-Mets Preview

Oct 2, 2010 - 4:41 AM By NICOLINO DIBENEDETTO STATS Writer

Washington (68-91) at New York (77-82), 1:10 p.m. EDT

Questions regarding the New York Mets' future are at the center of their season-ending series. A pair of rookies, however, are providing some hope going into 2011.

Amid a report of impending changes, Ike Davis and Josh Thole will try to help the Mets to a fourth consecutive win over the last-place Washington Nationals on Saturday.

Manager Jerry Manuel and general manager Omar Minaya both said they have not been notified they are losing their jobs following a second consecutive losing season and fourth in a row in which New York (78-82) failed to reach the playoffs. A Sports Illustrated report that cited unidentified sources surfaced Friday, claiming the duo will not return next year.

"Going in, you know when you come to New York bottom line is you have to win," Manuel said. "So that tells you some things right there. But you, obviously, would like for the people just to let you know before it comes across the screen."

The changes may not be limited to management.

"I don't even know if I'm going to be here next year," said shortstop Jose Reyes, who has been hampered by injuries for two years. "Let's see what happens."

Davis and Thole, though, have been bright spots. Both connected for homers Friday with Thole's walkoff shot in the 10th clinching a 2-1 win in the opener of this three-game set.

The catcher is hitting .321 in his last nine home games.

Davis, meanwhile, is winding down one of the best rookie seasons in franchise history. With 71 RBIs, the first baseman is tied with Ty Wigginton for second all-time among Mets' rookies, and is just three behind Darryl Strawberry's total from 1983.

Davis also has 19 homers, leaving him seven shy of Strawberry's total on the club's all-time list for rookies.

The Mets hope that success among rookies reaches the mound as Cuban-born Raul Valdes (3-3, 5.23 ERA) will make his first start in the majors.

The left-hander got his most extensive work in a 10-7 win at Washington on May 20, allowing three runs with six strikeouts while throwing 80 pitches in five innings after John Maine left with an injury in the first.

Valdes is 2-1 with a 5.19 ERA in five games against the Nationals.

Washington (68-92) will also turn to a rookie from Cuba with Yunesky Maya (0-3, 6.43) getting a fifth chance at his first career win.

The right-hander lost his major league debut to the Mets 4-1, hours after being recalled from Triple-A Syracuse on Sept. 7. He surrendered four runs and five hits in five innings including a homer to Davis.

Maya was tagged for five runs and eight hits in 5 1-3 innings last Saturday in a 5-0 loss to Atlanta. He has been given one run of support in 21 innings.

"Obviously, you have to be positive. I believe I could be successful here," Maya said through catcher Wil Nieves on the Nationals' official website.

The pitching matchup is the first pitting fellow Cubans since Montreal's Livan Hernandez started opposite Michael Tejera of Florida on May 22, 2003.