New York @ Washington preview

Last Meeting ( Jun 7, 2012 ) NY Mets 3, Washington 1

The Washington Nationals have managed to cling to a 2 1/2-game lead over the red-hot Atlanta Braves in the National League East despite dropping four of their last seven games. That slump has enabled the New York Mets to remain within six games even though it comes into the nation’s capital on a four-game losing streak. The Nationals have dominated the Mets recently, winning eight of the last 10 head-to-head meetings, and they took two of three when the clubs last faced off in early June.

The Nationals haven’t set the world on fire offensively, but they have more than made up for it with a pitching staff that leads the major leagues in almost every major category. The starting tandem of Stephen Strasburg and Gio Gonzalez are the only pair of teammates in the National League with double-digit wins, and each of the five pitchers in the rotation has an ERA less than 4.00. The Mets have also gotten solid starting pitching, but they have been largely buoyed by an offense that ranks fourth in the National League in runs scored.

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

PITCHING MATCHUP: Mets LH Jonathon Niese (7-4, 3.73 ERA) vs. Nationals LH Ross Detwiler (4-3, 3.43)

Niese had been enjoying a solid stretch of work, turning in six quality starts over eight outings and lowering his ERA by a run and a half, before getting battered in a July 8 loss against Chicago (seven innings, nine hits, seven runs). He had given up only eight earned runs in his previous 41 1/3 innings before that setback. Niese is 2-0 with a 3.42 ERA in four career starts against Washington.

Detwiler, who has been effective both as a starter and a reliever this season, had a string of 12 1/3 scoreless innings over four appearances in June, but he has not been involved in a decision since June 5, when he beat the Mets in relief. The left-hander hasn’t been quite as sharp in his last two starts, giving up seven runs and 16 hits in 11 2/3 innings. Detwiler is 3-1 in his career against New York.

WALK-OFFS

1. The Nationals are hopeful that SS Ian Desmond, who has been day-to-day with a strained oblique, will be able to return to the lineup Tuesday after missing the last two games.

2. Washington hitters are 24-for-78 (.308) against Niese, led by 3B Ryan Zimmerman (4-for-8), 1B Adam LaRoche (3-for-9, two homers, six RBIs) and OF Michael Morse (3-for-9, three doubles).

3. The Marlins are a combined 9-for-43 (.209) against Detwiler. The only Miami player with more than five career at-bats against the Nationals left-hander is SS Jose Reyes (2-for-8, walk).