Mets to Nats: You should worry

WASHINGTON — It was the sixth game of 162, but there was a message the Mets wanted to send in their first meeting with the Nationals.

“We’re going to go out there and play as hard as we can every day,” manager Mickey Callaway said. “We’re going to be play baseball the right way, and if we do that, they probably do need to worry about us.”

That was certainly the case on Thursday. Behind six solid innings from Jacob deGrom, three more from a suddenly shutdown bullpen and another strong day from a deep lineup, the Mets spoiled the Nationals’ home opener with an 8-2 win at Nationals Park.

The Mets (5-1) are off to their best start since 2006, when they began 8-1, and though this marked just the first of 18 showdowns between the NL East foes, it did not lack in meaning.

“It always feels great to win here,” said Michael Conforto — who slugged a two-run home run in his season debut, six months removed from shoulder surgery. “You say take every game like it’s the same opponent, but I think there is something different when you come here and play and when they come to town. It’s just a rivalry and it’s one we want to come out on top of.”

The Nationals have been kings of the division the past two years and four out of the past six. Their race to the top was a blowout last year, winning the division by 20 games, and the Mets finished eight games back in 2016.

But this year could be different, and the Nationals seem to know it.

“I think there’s a few teams in our division that are significantly better than they were in the years past,” Nationals first baseman Ryan Zimmerman said. “Those guys over there, it’s always been about health. If they can stay healthy, they’re a really good team. The Braves are obviously better, the Phillies have some young talent, so I don’t think anyone in this locker room thinks we have anything.”

The Nationals have gone 84-47 against the Mets over the past seven years, including a 25-13 mark on the way to their two most recent division titles. They may be in search of another team to feast on this year.

“We know that they’re going to be a really good team all year,” Zimmerman said. “It’s not going to be easy.”