New York @ Washington preview
Nationals Park
Last Meeting ( Aug 30, 2013 ) NY Mets 3, Washington 2
The New York Mets provided a hiccup for the Washington Nationals in the latter's surge toward the second wild card of the National League. After posting a 3-2 triumph in the series opener, the Mets vie for a win of the three-game set on Saturday when the NL East rivals reconvene in the nation's capital. Ike Davis belted a two-run homer and Daniel Murphy collected two hits and scored twice on Friday.
The setback was Washington's second in 10 outings and kept it 6 1/2 games behind Cincinnati for the elusive last postseason spot. Manager Davey Johnson made an early exit as he dealt with an illness and didn't see Bryce Harper jog down to first base on a weak groundout to end a scoring threat in the eighth inning. "The thing about Bryce right now, it's tough. He gets frustrated. I don't think he does it intentionally, but he's going to have to start picking it up a little bit because we've got everybody else doing it," bench coach Randy Knorr said.
TV: 7:05 p.m. ET, WPIX (New York), MASN (Washington)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Mets RH Zack Wheeler (6-3, 3.42 ERA) vs. Nationals RH Dan Haren (8-11, 4.66)
Wheeler has excelled on the road, posting a 4-0 mark with a 2.11 ERA in seven starts this season. Unfortunately for the 23-year-old rookie, his last outing came at home against Philadelphia on Monday - and he yielded two runs in 6 2/3 innings to suffer a hard-luck 2-1 setback. Wheeler, who has recorded four straight quality starts, allowed a season-worst five runs over 4 2/3 innings in an eventual 13-2 loss to Washington on June 30.
Haren recorded a no-decision after permitting four runs on eight hits in seven innings against Kansas City on Sunday. The 32-year-old has turned it on since July 27, posting a 4-0 mark with a save. Haren evened his career mark versus the Mets at 2-2 after allowing one run over seven innings in a 4-1 triumph on July 27.
WALK-OFFS
1. Washington C Wilson Ramos continues to torment the Mets after homering to lead off the third inning on Friday. Ramos has belted five of his 28 career homers versus the NL East rival.
2. New York OF Andrew Brown has collected 14 hits - including two homers and three doubles - in his past 13 games (eight starts).
3. Nationals CF Denard Span, who is riding a career-high 13-game hitting streak, went 2-for-3 in his previous meeting with Wheeler.
PREDICTION: Mets 4, Nationals 2