Washington @ New York preview

Last Meeting ( Jul 23, 2012 ) Washington 8, NY Mets 2

R.A. Dickey is in the midst of a dream season, and the New York Mets will need a big performance from their veteran knuckleballer against the visiting Washington Nationals on Tuesday to halt their disastrous slide. New York fell to 0-4 on its six-game homestand after Monday's 10-inning loss to the Nationals. It marked the 10th defeat in 11 games for the Mets, who trail Washington by 9 1/2 games in the NL East. Dickey is bidding to become baseball's first 14-game winner.

After watching Atlanta pull within 1 1/2 games on Saturday, Washington has stretched its division lead to 4 1/2 games over the Braves with three straight victories. Ryan Zimmerman celebrated being named NL player of the week Monday with his 10th home run in July. Zimmerman is riding a seven-game hitting streak during which he has homered five times and collected 10 RBIs. Teammate Danny Espinosa has hit safely in nine consecutive games.

TV: 7:10 p.m. ET, MASN (Washington), SNY (New York)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Nationals LH Gio Gonzalez (12-5, 3.32 ERA) vs. Mets RH R.A. Dickey (13-1, 2.84)

Gonzalez will be seeking redemption after losing his last two starts, including his worst performance of the season against the Mets on Wednesday, when he was tagged for six runs in 3 1/3 innings. Gonzalez was solid against the Mets last year, giving up only one run on four hits in seven innings. He is 7-2 in 10 starts away from home this year.

Dickey, who pitched an inning in relief Saturday, was staked to a 9-0 lead and easily got the best of Gonzalez last week to win his 11th consecutive decision. He has struggled some in the past month, allowing at least four runs in four of his five starts, but the Mets have scored 36 runs in that span. Dickey is a perfect 6-0 with two shutouts and a superb 0.95 WHIP at Citi Field.

WALK-OFFS

1. Washington is 7-3 against the Mets this season, including 3-0 in extra innings.

2. New York became the third team since 1900 to lost consecutive extra-inning games by five-plus runs, joining the Astros (1973) and Angels (1994).

3. Mets SS Ruben Tejada was spiked in the 10th inning and is expected to sit out Tuesday's game.