New York @ Washington preview
Nationals Park
Last Meeting ( Jul 2, 2010 ) NY Mets 5, Washington 3
Like everyone else in the NL East, the New York Mets figure to see plenty of Stephen Strasburg in the coming years. They'll get their first look at exactly what they're up against when the Washington Nationals' rookie sensation takes the mound on Saturday.
Strasburg (2-2, 2.27 ERA) is coming off the worst outing of his brief major league career - but that really isn't saying much.
He allowed four runs - three earned - on six hits in a 5-0 loss to the Atlanta Braves, marking the first time in five starts that he has allowed more than two runs. He had recorded six scoreless innings before the Braves got to him in the seventh - and he still posted seven strikeouts, though that marked a season-low.
The 21-year-old has fanned 48 batters in 31 2/3 innings over his first five starts, and his immediate success already has sparked debate about whether he should be named to the National League All-Star team.
Since winning his first two starts, though, the Nationals' budding ace hasn't gotten much help from the offense. Washington has scored a total of one run in his last three starts, and Strasburg has found himself on the wrong end of consecutive shutouts.
Of course, the Nationals aren't scoring runs for anyone lately. They've scored 59 runs in their last 20 games and have scored three runs or fewer in five of their last six games.
That figures to be good news for 35-year-old knuckleballer R.A. Dickey, who looks to bounce back from his first loss of the season after winning six consecutive starts. He gave up five runs on five hits over five innings Monday in a 10-3 loss to the Florida Marlins in Puerto Rico to snap the streak.
Dickey (6-1, 2.98 ERA) made his Mets debut against the Nationals on May 19, holding them to two runs on five hits over six innings. He didn't factor in the decision in Washington's 5-3 win.
The Mets have provided plenty of support for Dickey, averaging 5.74 runs in his eight starts, but hitting that number figures to be a challenge against Strasburg.
It doesn't help that the Mets are hardly at full strength.
Center fielder Angel Pagan returned to the lineup Friday and went 1-for-5 in only his second start since straining his oblique muscle June 23 against Detroit.
Shortstop Jose Reyes has missed the past three games with stiffness in his lower back.
The Mets still have third baseman David Wright in the middle of the order, though, and Wright is as hot as any hitter in the league. With three hits Friday, Wright has multiple hits in eight of his last 11 games and is hitting .477 during that span.