Nationals at Mets
The New York Mets took advantage of a weak spot in the schedule to jump back into the wild-card race in the National League and now get a chance to prove themselves against stronger competition with 31 of the next 34 games against teams with winning records. The Mets begin that stretch by hosting the wild card-leading Washington Nationals on Friday in the opener of a three-game series.
New York has won 13 of its last 14 games - all against teams under .500 - to claw within one-half game of the second NL wild card and is coming off a four-game sweep of the Miami Marlins. "What we've done is not easy, but it's in the past," Mets manager Mickey Callaway told reporters. "If we keep on playing the way we've been playing, we're going to continue to do good things." The Nationals, who enter play Thursday two games ahead of the pack for the first NL wild card, are coming off a three-game sweep at San Francisco during which the pitching staff surrendered a total of four runs. Stephen Strasburg will try to keep that run going for Washington on Friday while the Mets turn to righty Marcus Stroman in search of a seventh consecutive victory.
TV: 7:10 p.m. ET, MASN (Washington), SNY (New York)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Nationals RH Stephen Strasburg (14-5, 3.72 ERA) vs. Mets RH Marcus Stroman (6-11, 3.07)
Strasburg had a string of wins in seven straight starts come to an end when he was knocked around for nine runs on as many hits in 4 2/3 innings in a loss at Arizona on Saturday. The former No. 1 overall pick served up three home runs in that outing after not surrendering a blast in any of his previous six turns. Strasburg is making his fourth start against New York this season and went 1-0 with a 2.75 ERA in the first three chances.
Stroman is making his first home start since arriving in a trade form the Toronto Blue Jays and is searching for his first win in a Mets uniform after struggling in his debut. The 28-year-old was reached for three runs on seven hits and a pair of walks in 4 1/3 innings at Pittsburgh on Saturday and did not factor in the decision. Stroman yielded three or fewer earned runs in each of his final seven starts for Toronto and faces Washington for the first time in his career.
WALK-OFFS
1. Nationals 3B Anthony Rendon (foot) left Wednesday’s game in the sixth inning but is not expected to miss much time.
2. New York OF Michael Conforto is 4-for-6 with three home runs and six RBIs in the last two games.
3. Washington OF Adam Eaton totaled 10 runs scored in the last eight games.