Washington @ New York preview

Last Meeting ( Aug 1, 2018 ) NY Mets 3, Washington 5

The Washington Nationals' offense was held in check in their last outing after erupting for 18 runs and 28 hits in the previous two games. Washington (64-64) looks to heat up its bats once again versus a New York Mets club that it lit up for 29 runs during a two-game sweep 3 1/2 weeks ago when the National League East rivals open a three-game series on Friday at Citi Field.

Ryan Zimmerman belted a game-ending two-run homer in Wednesday's 8-7 win over Philadelphia before sitting out the series finale, a 2-0 setback that halted the Nationals' brief momentum. Zimmerman is batting .360 with six homers and 17 RBIs in his last 15 games overall, but is just 6-for-28 this season against New York (56-71). Todd Frazier, who has 13 RBIs in his last 14 games, went deep for the second straight outing on Thursday when he launched a solo homer in the Mets' 3-1 setback versus San Francisco. The 32-year-old Frazier is 5-for-21 with nine strikeouts against Washington this season and just 3-for-16 with eight strikeouts in his career versus Friday starter Gio Gonzalez.

TV: 7:10 p.m. ET, MASN2 (Washington), WPIX (New York)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Nationals LH Gio Gonzalez (7-10, 4.51 ERA) vs. Mets LH Jason Vargas (3-8, 7.67)

Gonzalez has seen his once-promising season take a pronounced turn for the worse, as he fell to 1-8 in his last 12 starts after getting blitzed for eight runs on 10 hits in 4 2/3 innings in Sunday's 12-1 romp by Miami. The 32-year-old has been particularly brutal of late, having given up five or more runs in four of his past six starts. Gonzalez aims to turn around his fortunes versus a familiar foe, as he owns a 15-5 mark with a 2.90 ERA in 25 career starts against the Mets.

Vargas tasted victory in his last start for the first time since May 30, as he yielded two runs and didn't walk a batter in 5 1/3 innings of an 8-2 triumph over Philadelphia. The 35-year-old will look to establish a winning streak when he faces Washington, against which he has pitched well but owns an 0-3 mark despite recording a 1.15 ERA. Mark Reynolds is 3-for-8 with two doubles in a small sample size versus Vargas, who will face Washington for the first time since 2006.

WALK-OFFS

1. New York RF Jay Bruce, who has been sidelined since June 19 with a sore right hip, is expected to be activated for the series opener.

2. Nationals OF Bryce Harper is 13-for-40 with four homers, 13 RBIs and 11 runs scored versus the Mets this season.

3. The availability of Mets C Devin Mesoraco is in question after he received an MRI exam on his stiff neck following Thursday's game.

PREDICTION: Nationals 4, Mets 3