New York @ Washington preview

Last Meeting ( Apr 21, 2013 ) Washington 0, NY Mets 2

The Washington Nationals’ struggling offense should get a boost Tuesday when outfielder Jayson Werth returns for the start of a three-game series against the visiting New York Mets. With 10 losses in its last 15 games, Washington has fallen under .500 for the first time since April 30. Werth, who has been sidelined since May 3 with a hamstring injury, will be asked to ignite a Nationals offense that has scored a total of seven runs over the last four games.

The Mets were trending upward after a four-game sweep of the Yankees, but they followed that with three straight losses at lowly Miami over the weekend. First baseman Ike Davis provided a ray of hope on Sunday when he had two hits, including his first home run since April 25. Davis was reportedly close to being demoted to the minors last week, but he’s hit .333 with five RBIs over his last four games.

TV: 7:05 p.m. ET, SNY (New York), MASN (Washington)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Mets RH Jeremy Hefner (1-5, 4.74 ERA) vs. Nationals RH Jordan Zimmermann (8-3, 2.37)

Hefner earned his first win of the season on Wednesday against the Yankees, allowing three runs over six innings. Danny Espinosa is 5-for-10 with two homers against the 27-year-old right-hander, who has allowed three runs or fewer in seven of his last nine outings. He’s 0-3 with a 5.57 ERA in four career starts against the Nationals, including an April 20 outing when he gave up three runs in four innings.

Zimmermann looks to bounce back from his worst start of the season after giving up seven runs over six innings at Baltimore on Wednesday. The loss snapped Zimmermann’s streak of 15 straight starts of allowing three runs or fewer. The right-hander is 5-0 with a 1.50 ERA in five starts at Nationals Park this season, and he hasn't lost at home since May 17, 2012.

WALK-OFFS

1. The Nationals are 24-6 when scoring three or more runs this season.

2. The Mets have scored three runs or fewer in 10 of their last 16 games.

3. Washington has hit at least one home run in 75 consecutive series, the longest active streak in the majors.

PREDICTION: Nationals 4, Mets 1