WASHINGTON — The Mets keep finding embarrassing new low points in this lost season, as witnessed by Tuesday night’s 4-0 blanking by the worst-in-baseball Nationals. Not only were they blanked for the fifth time this month, but the complete-game shutout tossed by Long Island native John Lannan was the first by a Washington pitcher in nearly three full seasons. Ouch.

With the Mets now 10 games out in the NL East for the first time all year, colleague Joel Sherman says it’s time for the Mets to plan for next season.

In the notes, it appears Gary Sheffield has until Friday to show enough improvement to stay off the disabled list.