Mets at Nationals
The New York Mets try for their season-high fourth straight victory when they visit the Washington Nationals on Wednesday in the middle contest of their three-game set. New York was never threatened in the series opener as Wilson Ramos belted a grand slam - after a botched double play allowed him to bat - in the first inning of its 6-2 victory Tuesday.
The Mets have won four of five - their best run of success since starting the season 5-1 - and have outscored their rivals 21-5 in their last three games. Washington (16-25) is nine games below .500 for the first time since 2011, losing 11 of its last 15 games and owning the second-worst record in the National League to Miami (10-30). Help could be on the way, though, as first baseman Ryan Zimmerman - out since April 28 because of a right foot injury - took infield practice Tuesday. The Nationals' Patrick Corbin on Wednesday makes his third start of the season versus New York and opposes Wilmer Font, who makes his second start since being acquired from Tampa Bay.
TV: 7:05 p.m. ET, SNY (New York), MASN 2 (Washington)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Mets RH Wilmer Font (1-0, 5.50) vs. Nationals LH Patrick Corbin (3-1, 3.20)
Font received a no-decision after allowing two runs and three hits (one home run) in 60 pitches over four innings of New York's 3-2 loss at San Diego on May 8. It was the first start of the season and sixth in the career for the 28-year-old Venezuelan, who has shown better command this season with 19 strikeouts against five walks over 18 innings. The Mets are hoping to get 75 pitches out of Font on Wednesday as they try to determine whether he can become a bona fide starter.
Corbin is coming off his best performance of the season, yielding three hits and four walks while striking out eight in seven innings of a 6-0 victory at Dodger Stadium on Thursday. The 29-year-old New York native has walked 11 in his last three starts covering 18 innings after issuing six free passes in his first five turns (32 2/3 frames). New York's Michael Conforto is 6-for-14 with four home runs and nine RBIs versus Corbin, who is 1-4 with a 4.83 ERA in 11 games (10 starts) against the Mets after permitting five runs over 12 innings while receiving a pair of no-decisions in his first two starts of the season.
WALK-OFFS
1. Washington CF Victor Robles belted his team-high seventh home run Tuesday, halting an eight-game drought.
2. New York INF-OF Jeff McNeil (.352) went 0-for-3 with two walks Tuesday, snapping his five-game hitting streak (8-for-18).
3. Nationals LF Juan Soto (.235, six home runs, team-high 23 RBIs) is 1-for-10 in three games since missing eight because of back spasms.