New York @ Washington preview

Last Meeting ( Sep 21, 2018 ) NY Mets 4, Washington 2

The Washington Nationals entered the season with expectations of winning a third consecutive National League East title. With eight games remaining, the goals are much more modest - a winning record - for the Nationals, who will try to rebound from consecutive losses when they continue a four-game set against the visiting New York Mets on Saturday afternoon.

Washington (77-77) could muster little offense against Mets ace Jacob deGrom in Friday's 4-2 loss and was eliminated from NL East contention when first-place Atlanta beat Philadelphia. Nationals third baseman Anthony Rendon had a run-scoring single to extend his hitting streak to seven games and has at least one RBI (12 total) in six straight games. New York right fielder Jay Bruce had an RBI single and run-scoring double in Friday's win and is 4-for-8 with a homer and four RBIs in the series. Catcher Devin Mesoraco, playing for the first time in 18 days, had two doubles and drove in a run as part of a 3-for-3 night.

TV: 4:05 p.m. ET, WPIX (New York), MASN 2 (Washington)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Mets RH Corey Oswalt (3-2, 6.31 ERA) vs. Nationals RH Austin Voth (0-1, 11.81)

Oswalt has worked primarily out of the bullpen for the past month, although he had an abbreviated start versus Philadelphia on Sept. 9, giving up two runs and five hits in three innings. He failed to retire a batter while giving up five runs to the Los Angeles Dodgers on Sept. 4 and served up a grand slam in a six-run ninth to Washington on Aug. 26. Oswalt pitched five innings of one-run ball against the Nationals on July 15.

Tanner Roark was scheduled to make the start but just returned to the team Friday after spending four days with his pregnant wife so the team pushed him back to next week. He will make his third major-league appearance and second start. Voth pitched a scoreless inning in relief at Atlanta on Sept. 14 but was rocked by the Mets for seven runs and nine hits over 4 1/3 innings in his major-league debut on July 14.

WALK-OFFS

1. Rendon, who has reached base in 29 straight games, is batting .393 (22-for-56) with 15 RBIs in 14 games against New York this season.

2. Mets RH Seth Lugo has 17 strikeouts in 12 1/3 innings over his last eight appearances.

3. Nationals RF Bryce Harper is in a 1-for-13 rut and remains three shy of his first 100-RBI season.

PREDICTION: Mets 6, Nationals 5