Washington @ New York preview
Citi Field
Last Meeting ( Jun 28, 2013 ) Washington 6, NY Mets 4
After recording a victory that their manager declared might have been their biggest of the year, the Washington Nationals will try to keep the momentum going on Saturday afternoon when they continue a three-game road series against the New York Mets. The Nationals rallied from a three-run deficit for a 6-4 win in the series opener to claim their sixth triumph in nine contests. The teams have split six meetings this season.
Washington is trying to move two games above .500 for the first time since it was 27-25 on May 28, and the Nationals have climbed within 5 1/2 games of National League East-leading Atlanta. The Mets are 12 games back, and Friday's loss was a tough one to swallow. New York has played better lately and is trying to avoid losing consecutive contests for the first time since a three-game skid from June 13-15.
TV: 1:10 p.m. ET, MASN HD (Washington), WPIX (New York), MLB Network
PITCHING MATCHUP: Nationals RH Taylor Jordan (NR) vs. Mets RH Dillon Gee (5-7, 4.82 ERA)
Jordan is set for his major-league debut after tearing it up in the minors this season. He was 9-1 with a 1.00 ERA in 15 games (14 starts) between High-A Potomac and Double-A Harrisburg, including a pair of shutouts at the latter stop. The 24-year-old has struck out 72 and walked 15 over 90 1/3 innings.
Gee had a run of four straight quality starts interrupted in his last outing, as he was tagged for six runs - five earned - over five innings at Philadelphia. Gee has defeated the Nationals twice this season, throwing 5 2/3 scoreless innings April 21 in New York and seven frames of one-run ball June 5 at Washington. He is 5-1 with a 2.70 ERA in eight career starts against Washington.
WALK-OFFS
1. Washington SS Ian Desmond, who has homered in consecutive games, has gone deep five times in his last nine contests.
2. Mets 1B Josh Satin went 3-for-3 with a pair of RBIs on Friday, setting a career high for hits and raising his average to .360 since being called up earlier this month.
3. Nationals 3B Ryan Zimmerman, who had a three-run double Friday, is 4-for-5 with eight RBIs with the bases loaded this season.
PREDICTION: Mets 5, Nationals 4