Washington @ New York preview

Last Meeting ( Aug 24, 2018 ) Washington 0, NY Mets 3

Tanner Roark and Zack Wheeler are considered middle-of-the-rotation starters, but they are riding winning streaks of five and six games, respectively, entering Saturday's matchup between the visiting Washington Nationals and New York Mets. Roark is 5-0 in six starts since the All-Star break while Wheeler hasn't tasted defeat in nearly two months.

Jay Bruce made a triumphant return to the lineup after spending more than two months on the disabled list, belting a two-run homer in New York's 3-0 victory Friday night. Rookie Jeff McNeil extended his hitting streak to nine games for the Mets, who have won 11 of their last 17. The Nationals amassed 18 runs and 28 hits in back-to-back wins over Philadelphia earlier this week, but they have managed only nine hits while absorbing consecutive shutout losses. Bryce Harper was hitless in four at-bats Friday and is 5-for-26 in seven games at Citi Field this season.

TV: 4:05 p.m. ET, FS1, MASN2 (Washington), SNY (New York)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Nationals RH Tanner Roark (8-12, 4.05 ERA) vs. Mets RH Zack Wheeler (8-6, 3.63)

It took a lengthy rain delay to halt Roark's string of five straight wins after he was forced to leave Tuesday's matchup at Philadelphia despite giving up one hit over three innings. He was 0-6 in seven starts leading into the All-Star break, but ripped off five straight quality starts prior to his last turn. Roark beat the Mets with seven innings of one-run ball on July 31, avenging a 4-2 setback to New York on July 13.

Wheeler's six-start winning streak came to an end in his last outing versus San Francisco despite striking out a season-high 10 and limiting the Giants to one run on five hits over seven innings in a no-decision. He has permitted two runs or fewer in each of his last six turns to stretch his unbeaten streak to a career high-tying 10 starts. Wheeler split a pair of decisions against Washington this season, giving up seven runs in 13 2/3 innings.

WALK-OFFS

1. Bruce hit his 281st homer Friday but just his first at Citi Field and fourth overall this season.

2. Nationals RH Stephen Strasburg threw a bullpen session Friday and expects to make his next start.

3. Mets 3B David Wright went 1-for-4 with a single in his ninth rehab game at Class A St. Lucie.

PREDICTION: Mets 3, Nationals 2