Nationals at Mets
Gloom and doom surrounded the New York Mets after they were unceremoniously swept by one National League East foe over the weekend, only to see the dark clouds give way to clear skies following three consecutive victories against another division rival. The Mets bid for their seventh straight win at Citi Field and a four-game sweep of the Washington Nationals when the clubs meet on Thursday afternoon.
New York found its offense in the eighth inning of Wednesday's 6-1 victory, as Juan Lagares ripped a three-run double to left-center field before Rajai Davis belted a three-run homer in his first at-bat with his new team. Left-hander Steven Matz will look to extend the Mets' winning streak at home, where he sports a 2-0 record with a 1.50 ERA in three starts this season. Stephen Strasburg has made himself at home at Citi Field with a sterling 8-1 mark and a 2.14 ERA in 11 starts. Adam Eaton recorded his lone hit in the series (1-for-11) with a solo homer on Wednesday for the Nationals, who have lost four in a row and surrendered 39 runs in their last six games.
TV: 12:10 p.m. ET, MASN2 (Washington), SNY (New York)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Nationals RH Stephen Strasburg (4-3, 3.32 ERA) vs. Mets LH Steven Matz (3-3, 3.96)
Strasburg answered a two-start skid with a sterling eight-inning outing versus the Chicago Cubs on Saturday. The 30-year-old allowed just two runs on four hits to improve to 3-2 in his last six trips to the mound, during which he has limited the opposition to a .189 batting average. Strasburg received a no-decision against New York on March 30 before scattering three hits and striking out nine over 6 2/3 innings five days later in a 4-0 victory versus the Mets.
Matz returned from a stint on the injured list by allowing two runs on five hits in 3 2/3 innings of a 2-0 setback at Miami. The 27-year-old allowed a solo homer to Jon Berti, marking the eighth time in his last six trips to the mound that he has been taken deep. Matz owns a 1-5 mark with a 3.60 ERA in 11 career encounters versus Washington, although he received a no-decision on April 6 against the Nationals despite scattering two hits over five innings.
WALK-OFFS
1. Washington LF Juan Soto is 9-for-23 with four doubles during his four-game hitting streak.
2. New York 2B Robinson Cano is expected to miss time after straining his left quad while running to first base in the third inning on Wednesday.
3. The Mets' 17 wins within the division are the most in the majors.