Washington @ New York preview

Last Meeting ( Apr 18, 2018 ) Washington 5, NY Mets 11

Max Scherzer will make his last start before the All-Star Game when he leads the Washington Nationals (46-46) into Citi Field on Thursday for the opener of a four-game series against the New York Mets (37-53). The three-time Cy Young Award winner bounced back from being shut out in three of his previous five starts to post his first win since June 5 in Saturday's 18-4 romp versus Miami.

"Consistency is the name of the game. The one day we hit, we score a lot. One day, we don't," said Washington manager Dave Martinez, who saw his offense go limp as it was blanked for the ninth time since the start of June in Wednesday's 2-0 setback versus Pittsburgh. The skidding Nationals have dropped 11 of their last 16 to fall back to .500 and reside 5 1/2 games out of first place in the National League East. New York also has struggled mightily with its offense, as it entered Wednesday's contest with eight runs in its previous five games and labored through nine scoreless innings before Brandon Nimmo's walk-off three-run homer in a 3-0 victory versus Philadelphia. Nimmo's blast accounted for the Mets' second walk-off win of the four-game series against the Phillies and third in the first seven contests of their 11-game homestand.

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

PITCHING MATCHUP: Nationals RH Max Scherzer (11-5, 2.33 ERA) vs. Mets LH Steven Matz (4-6, 3.31)

Scherzer allowed a season-high three homers and recorded a campaign-worst three strikeouts in Saturday's resounding victory over the Marlins. The 33-year-old will tune up for the Midsummer Classic versus the Mets, against whom he is 8-4 with a 2.23 ERA and 0.86 WHIP while limiting the club to a .180 batting average. Jose Bautista (9-for-20) and Jose Reyes (10-for-29) have feasted off Scherzer, however.

Matz suffered the hard-luck loss on Saturday after allowing one run on five hits over 6 1/3 innings of a 3-0 setback versus Tampa Bay. The 27-year-old has reduced his ERA by over a full run (4.42 to 3.31) in his last nine starts while working at least five innings in each of his last seven trips to the mound. Matz recorded a pair of no-decisions against Washington in April, permitting four runs on six hits in nine innings.

WALK-OFFS

1. Washington RF Bryce Harper is hitless in six of his last eight outings, going 4-for-25 with 10 strikeouts in that span.

2. New York SS Amed Rosario is 5-for-7 with three extra-base hits and three runs scored in his last two contests.

3. Nationals CF Adam Eaton went 6-for-11 with two RBIs in his past three games.

PREDICTION: Nationals 3, Mets 2