LEADING OFF

A look at what’s happening around the majors today:

METS MAGIC: Ace Jacob deGrom (7-7, 2.77) and the streaking Mets go for their ninth straight win and a threegame sweep of Washington. New York has won 15 of 16, posting a pair of late-inning comeback wins this weekend at energized Citi Field. The Mets have pulled within a half-game of Washington for the first NL wild card.

DeGrom is 3-0 with a 1.35 ERA in his past six starts. He’ll try to stay hot against Aníbal Sanchez (7-6, 3.67) in the series finale.

ASTROS BLAST OFF: Coming off the highest-scoring game in franchise history, Houston tries for its ninth straight win when it takes on Baltimore. The Astros teed off at Camden Yards on Saturday night, with rookie Yordan Alvarez hitting three home runs in a 23-2 romp. Jose Altuve, Alex Bregman and Carlos Correa also homered as Houston set a team record with 13 extra-base hits. The Orioles have allowed a major leagueleading 240 homers and lost five straight. Justin Verlander (15-4, 2.68 ERA), who has won his last five starts, pitches for the AL West leaders against Baltimore righty Asher Wojciechowski (2-5, 4.89 ERA).

MAKING A NAME: Reds rookie Aristides Aquino has hit seven home runs in his first 10 games, tying the record set by Colorado’s Trevor Story in 2016. Aquino connected three times Saturday night against the Cubs. With those whiplash swings, the 25-yearold outfielder who struggled to escape the lowest levels of minor league ball has become an overnight sensation in Cincinnati. Aquino has homered in four straight games, one shy of the team mark. The only other Reds rookie to homer in four straight was Eric Davis in 1984 — they share the same No. 44 and have a similar swing.