Washington @ New York preview

Last Meeting ( Jun 6, 2013 ) NY Mets 0, Washington 0

In an otherwise difficult year, the New York Mets have played some solid baseball on the road. Coming off a successful excursion capped by a comeback win in Colorado, the Mets will try to shift that success to home on Friday when they begin a three-game series with the Washington Nationals. New York, which is just 14-23 at home, went 7-4 on a challenging trip that included five games in four days against first-place Atlanta and four different stops overall.

The Nationals won 14 of the 18 meetings with the Mets in 2012, but New York has managed to turn things around. The Mets have won three of the first five contests between the National League East rivals, including a 10-1 rout in their most recent encounter on June 5. Washington is coming off a 3-2 loss in 11 innings to Arizona on Thursday.

TV: 7:10 p.m. ET, MASN2 (Washington), SNY (New York)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Nationals LH Ross Detwiler (2-6, 4.18 ERA) vs. Mets RH Matt Harvey (7-1, 2.05)

Since bursting out of the gate in fine fashion, Detwiler has had a rough go of it. Detwiler's ERA hopped over 4.00 for the first time this year after he gave up seven runs in 3 2/3 innings against Colorado on Sunday. The southpaw is 0-3 with an 8.15 ERA over his last four appearances. Detwiler is 4-1 with a 3.08 ERA in nine games (six starts) in his career against New York.

Harvey recently said that he enjoys pitching Friday nights under the lights, particularly against the Nationals. That was in part a reference to him outdueling Washington star Stephen Strasburg in a much-hyped encounter at home on April 19. That start was one of 10 in which Harvey has allowed one run or fewer. His latest came Sunday at Philadelphia, which managed just two hits and a walk in six innings against the right-hander.

WALK-OFFS

1. Mets 3B David Wright is 6-for-15 with a home run and three doubles against Detwiler.

2. Nationals RF Bryce Harper (knee) continued his rehab at Double-A Harrisburg on Thursday. Manager Davey Johnson indicated that there is a chance Harper could return this weekend.

3. New York RF Marlon Byrd has 11 homers since May 3.

PREDICTION: Mets 4, Nationals 2