For the Mets to qualify for the postseason, they need better from Kodai Senga and an offense that slumbers against middle relievers.

Josh Bell homered and drove in two runs, rookie reliever Cole Henry pitched out of a jam in the sixth inning and the Washington Nationals held on to beat the Mets 5-4, ending New York’s three-game winning streak.

Brandon Nimmo explained why he felt he had to go out of the game on Wednesday in an eventual 5-4 loss for the Mets.

BOTTOM LINE: The Washington Nationals and New York Mets meet on Thursday with the three-game series tied 1-1. Washington has a 51-75 record overall and a 25-39 record in home games. The Nationals are 19-11 in games when they hit at least two home runs.

The Mets’ pitching plan right now entails rolling with the same five starting pitchers and not adding a sixth.

The Mets kept their push for a Wild Card spot rolling Tuesday night, blasting the Nationals 8-1 behind a dominant David Peterson and another long ball from Mark

New York Mets left fielder Brandon Nimmo was removed in the second inning against Washington with a stiff neck on Wednesday night. There was no obvious play where Nimmo was hurt. He grounded into a double play to end the first inning and did not have a chance in the field.

The Mets are in crime-free D.C. on Wednesday. Kodai Senga has allowed three runs in his past 10 innings but went 0-1 in those two games. That’s a crime. Fact is Kodai hasn’t won since June 12 against (wait for it) the Nationals.

Preview the Aug. 20 matchup between the New York Mets and Washington Nationals with recent trends, how to watch, livestream info, and more.

It’s even rarer that he gets two. Given a second chance, Dylan Crews did not waste it in the fourth inning of Wednesday night’s game at Nationals Park. New York Mets right-hander Kodai Senga started the Nationals’ prized rookie with a fastball over ...