New York @ Washington preview

Last Meeting ( Sep 20, 2018 ) NY Mets 5, Washington 4

Jacob deGrom is winless over his last five starts despite leading the majors with a 1.78 ERA and he looks to snap the victory drought when the New York Mets visit the Washington Nationals on Friday in the second contest of a four-game series. The New York ace has allowed three runs or less in 27 consecutive starts, a major-league single-season record.

A popular candidate for the National League Cy Young Award despite an 8-9 record, deGrom has held opponents to a major league-low .288 slugging percentage and ranks fourth in the majors with 251 strikeouts. He will look to pitch the Mets to a second straight victory after New York prevailed 5-4 in 12 innings on Thursday. Washington third baseman Anthony Rendon slugged his 100th career homer and is a torrid 11-for-21 with three homers and 11 RBIs over the past five games. First baseman Ryan Zimmerman is also locked in at the plate, as his three-hit outing on Thursday made him 8-for-22 with four doubles over the past five games.

TV: 7:05 p.m. ET, SNY (New York), MASN 2 (Washington)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Mets RH Jacob deGrom (8-9, 1.78 ERA) vs. Nationals RH Joe Ross (0-0, 3.60)

The 30-year-old deGrom received a no-decision Sunday when he gave up three runs and five hits in seven innings against the Boston Red Sox. He struck out 12 in the contest to mark the 10th time this season he struck out 10 or more this season. One of those occurrences was when deGrom struck out 12 in a no-decision against Washington on April 16 - he gave up three runs and six hits over 7 1/3 innings - and he stands 6-4 with a 2.76 ERA in 14 career starts against the Nationals.

Ross is making his second major-league start of the season after working his way back from Tommy John surgery in July 2017. The 25-year-old gave up two runs and four hits over five innings against the Chicago Cubs on Sept. 13 but wasn't involved with the decision. Ross is 2-2 with a 4.29 ERA in six career starts against the Mets.

WALK-OFFS

1. Mets OF Michael Conforto hit his 27th homer on Thursday to match his career-best total set last season.

2. Washington rookie LF Juan Soto is 1-for-14 over the last three contests.

3. New York 1B Wilmer Flores will miss the rest of the season due to early-onset arthritis in both knees and will receive injections.

PREDICTION: Nationals 4, Mets 2