New York @ Washington preview

Last Meeting ( Jul 26, 2013 ) NY Mets 1, Washington 2

The Washington Nationals' offensive woes continued Friday with a total of two runs in a doubleheader, but it was enough to earn them a split heading into Saturday's third contest of a four-game series against the visiting New York Mets. Ryan Zimmerman's walk-off homer in the ninth inning of the nightcap moved the Nationals into second place in the National League East. Washington is 2-7 since the All-Star break, scoring two runs or fewer seven times.

New York has played much better of late, winning 21 of its last 35 games and posting a 13-9 record in July. Second baseman Daniel Murphy is in the midst of a torrid stretch, extending his hitting streak to six games with a 6-for-9 performance in Friday's doubleheader. Murphy is 11-for-17 with two homers, three doubles and eight RBIs over his last four games to boost his batting average to .286 - the highest it has been since June 12.

TV: 3:05 p.m. ET, FOX

PITCHING MATCHUP: Mets RH Dillon Gee (7-7, 4:07 ERA) vs. Nationals RH Dan Haren (4-11, 5.79)

Gee carried a no-hitter into the seventh inning against Atlanta on Monday, but did not factor in the decision. Since going 2-6 with a 6.34 ERA in his first 10 starts, Gee has turned things around with a 5-1 mark in his last 10 starts - allowing two runs or fewer eight times in that span. He has beaten the Nationals three times this season and is 6-1 with a 2.57 ERA in nine career starts against them.

Haren has not won in more than 2 1/2 months, going 0-8 in 11 starts since his last victory on May 9. Among the losses in that stretch was a 10-1 home defeat to the Mets on June 5, when Haren surrendered three homers - two to Marlon Byrd - and five runs in four innings. The inability to keep the ball in the park has torched Haren, who has served up 10 homers in his last 13 starts and 21 overall.

WALK-OFFS

1. Gee has limited Washington to two runs over 18 2/3 innings this year.

2. Nationals RHP Drew Storen, who has allowed at least three runs in four of his last 11 appearances, was optioned to Triple-A Syracuse on Friday.

3. Mets 3B David Wright is one homer shy of tying Mike Piazza (220) for second place on the franchise's all-time list.

PREDICTION: Mets 5, Nationals 2