Washington @ New York preview

Last Meeting ( Jul 10, 2016 ) Washington 3, NY Mets 2

The New York Mets used a three-game sweep of the Washington Nationals just over a year ago to help secure their 2015 National League East crown. The division-leading Nationals can go a long way toward returning the favor when they begin a three-game series in New York on Friday.

Washington has won three straight to finish a stretch of 20 games in 20 days and enters the set with a 9 1/2-game lead over the second-place Mets, who are two behind St. Louis in the race for the second wild card in the NL. "I'm proud of these guys, because that’s a tough stretch," Nationals manager Dusty Baker told reporters after Wednesday's 2-1 win over Philadelphia. "There are some teams that had had that same 20-game stretch that didn't do as well, there are a few that did pretty good, and the main thing is, we finished strong." They may be heading to New York at a good time, as the Mets dropped a 6-4 decision to Miami on Thursday and saw starter Jacob deGrom struggle again. Additionally, the club announced that second baseman Neil Walker will undergo season-ending back surgery, a tough blow for the 14th-ranked offense in the NL.

TV: 7:10 p.m. ET, MASN2, WUSA 9 (Washington), SNY (New York)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Nationals RH A.J. Cole (0-1, 4.97 ERA) vs. Mets RH Noah Syndergaard (12-7, 2.55)

Cole will be making his third start of the season and his first career appearance against the Mets. He gave up three runs and four hits in 5 2/3 innings of a no-decision versus Colorado on Saturday and has allowed three home runs in 12 2/3 frames so far. Opponents are hitting .191 and left-handed batters have managed just four hits in 25 at-bats against the Florida native.

Syndergaard seems to be getting stronger as he continues to pitch through a bone spur in his elbow, winning three straight starts while posting a 1.31 ERA. He has allowed two hits in each of his last two turns while yielding a total of one run in 15 frames. The 24-year-old blanked the Nationals over seven innings early in the season but is 0-2 with a 9.39 ERA in two meetings since.

WALK-OFFS

1. Washington is 38-16 against the NL East.

2. Mets 3B Jose Reyes has recorded multiple hits in eight of his last 17 games.

3. Nationals IF/OF Trea Turner is hitting .514 during his eight-game hitting streak.

PREDICTION: Mets 4, Nationals 3