Washington @ New York preview
Citi Field
Last Meeting ( Sep 10, 2013 ) Washington 6, NY Mets 3
Jayson Werth leads the National League in both slugging (.548) and on-base plus slugging percentage (.949) - and he's done nothing but bolster both statistics against the New York Mets. After homering for the second consecutive game and adding a pair of doubles to boot, Werth looks to lead the Washington Nationals to their fifth straight victory when they visit the Mets on Wednesday. Adam LaRoche and former Met Scott Hairston also went deep as the Nationals posted a 6-3 triumph on Tuesday to move within six games of Cincinnati in the race for the second wild card.
While Washington has launched 12 homers during a four-game winning streak, New York's offense hasn't been as potent en route to dropping seven of nine.
Justin Turner had an RBI single and scored on a two-run single from Matt den Dekker, but pulled up lame with a sore hamstring. Third baseman Josh Satin is expected to start in place of Turner on Wednesday.
TV: 7:10 p.m. ET, MASN2 (Washington), SNY (New York)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Nationals RH Dan Haren (8-13, 5.23 ERA) vs. Mets RH Zack Wheeler (7-4, 3.38)
Haren struggled for the second straight outing after permitting five runs on six hits in three innings of a 7-0 setback to Miami on Friday. The 32-year-old was blitzed by New York on Aug. 31, yielding seven runs on nine hits in just 2 2/3 innings. Haren's performances on the road have left a great deal to be desired, going 3-8 while allowing a .276 batting average.
Wheeler suffered his first loss on the road Friday after getting touched for three runs (two earned) in five innings against Cleveland. The 23-year-old rookie returns home where he owns just a 2-3 mark and 5.08 ERA while walking 15 in 33 2/3 innings. Wheeler won his lone start against Washington, permitting two runs on five hits in 6 2/3 innings on Aug. 31.
WALK-OFFS
1. Washington CF Denard Span, who is riding a 21-game hitting streak, is 4-for-6 with a double against Wheeler.
2. After going 1-for-23 in his previous six contests, Mets C Travis d’Arnaud collected a pair of hits on Tuesday to watch his batting average soar to .159.
3. Werth is 10-for-18 with two homers, five doubles and five runs scored in his last four contests.
PREDICTION: Nationals 5, Mets 1