Washington @ New York preview
Citi Field
Last Meeting ( Jun 29, 2013 ) Washington 1, NY Mets 5
The New York Mets haven't won a series at home in more than a month, but they'll try to change that when they host the Washington Nationals for the rubber match of a three-game set Sunday. New York let a late lead slip away in Friday's opener but claimed a 5-1 victory on Saturday. The Nationals made three errors Saturday - second-most in the National League with 59 - and dropped back to .500.
After winning their first three home series - including taking two of three from Washington - the Mets have claimed only one set at Citi Field since, sweeping a pair from the New York Yankees on May 27-28. The Mets are 15-24 at home, and they've lost 14 of the last 18 meetings with Washington at Citi Field. New York leads the season series 4-3, but the National League East rivals are far from done - they'll meet 11 more times.
TV: 1:10 p.m. ET, Mid-Atlantic Sports Network 2 (Washington), WPIX (New York)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Nationals LH Gio Gonzalez (4-3, 3.31 ERA) vs. Mets RH Zack Wheeler (1-0, 3.18)
Gonzalez has recorded quality starts in five straight outings and nine of his last 10, but he hasn't always gotten much run support. He picked up his first win since May 5 in his last outing, holding Arizona to two runs over 6 1/3 innings. Gonzalez is 3-1 with a 3.82 ERA in six starts against the Mets, and allowed five runs in four innings at New York on April 20 but didn't figure in the decision.
Wheeler was stellar in his major-league debut, shutting out Atlanta for six innings, but he took a step back in his second start. He gave up four runs in 5 1/3 innings against the Chicago White Sox on Tuesday. Command has been Wheeler's biggest worry, as he has issued eight walks and hit a batter in 11 1/3 innings at the big-league level.
WALK-OFFS
1. The Mets have scored five or fewer runs in a single-season, franchise-record 28 consecutive home games. They last broke the five-run plateau at home in a 7-3 win over the Los Angeles Dodgers on April 24.
2. The Nationals are 35-10 when scoring three or more runs and 5-30 when plating two or fewer.
3. New York LF Eric Young Jr. is riding an eight-game hitting streak, matching the longest of his career. Young is 14-for-35 during the stretch.
PREDICTION: Nationals 4, Mets 3