New York @ Washington preview

Last Meeting ( Jul 30, 2011 ) NY Mets 0, Washington 3

THE STORY: After scoring eight or more runs in four straight games, the New York Mets' offense was rendered powerless by Yunesky Maya and the Washington Nationals on Saturday. Although pressed into service after scheduled starter Jason Marquis was traded to the Arizona Diamondbacks earlier in the day, Maya handcuffed the Mets en route to a 3-0 triumph. New York will look to rebound and win the rubber match of the three-game series when the teams reconvene at Nationals Park on Sunday afternoon.

TV: 1:35 p.m. ET, WPIX (New York), MASN2 (Washington)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Mets LH Jonathon Niese (10-8, 3.97 ERA) vs. Nationals RH Jordan Zimmermann (6-9, 3.27).

Niese permitted five runs for the second straight outing, but posted his third win in four decisions. The 24-year-old Ohio native allowed six hits over five innings in Tuesday's 8-6 victory over the Cincinnati Reds. Niese has won both career decisions against the Nationals - including an impressive outing on May 18 when he scattered six hits over seven scoreless innings and struck out seven in a 3-0 win over Washington. Zimmermann has surrendered six runs in his last two starts - both losses. The 25-year-old Wisconsin native permitted eight hits in 6 2/3 innings in an 11-2 loss to the Florida Marlins on Tuesday. Zimmermann has split four career decisions against the Mets and is 1-1 this season against the National League East rival. He gave up two runs in a 6-2 win on April 8, but allowed five runs in a 6-4 loss on April 26.

ABOUT THE METS (55-52): After scoring 34 runs in its previous four games, New York was unceremoniously blanked for the fifth time this season Saturday. David Wright went 2-for-3 to collect his seventh straight multi-hit game. Wright, who is riding a nine-game hitting streak, is 19-for-40 since returning from the disabled list. Wright has struggled against Zimmermann, collecting only two hits in 13 career at-bats. Daniel Murphy extended his hitting streak to seven games with a single. He is 4-for-9 in his career against Zimmermann.

ABOUT THE NATIONALS (50-56): With Washington celebrating Jayson Werth Bobblehead Night, the high-priced off-season acquisition belted a three-run homer in the first inning to help the Nationals snap their season-high six-game losing skid. The homer was Werth's 12th of the season and second since June 17. Werth is 4-for-11 in his career against Niese. The Nationals acquired prospect Zachary Walters in the deal for Marquis. Walters, a 21-year-old shortstop, is batting .302 with nine homers and 56 RBIs in 97 games in Class A this season. Washington also shipped outfielder Jerry Hairston to the Milwaukee Brewers for minor-leaguer Erik Komatsu. The 23-year-old Komatsu batted .294 with six home runs and 40 RBIs in 379 at-bats with the Brewers' Double A affiliate in Huntsville. The Nationals recalled utility player Brian Bixler from Triple A Syracuse to replace Hairston.

FINAL PITCH: "It was a little hard, but in a way I was ready for it. They told me to come up here and I might be able to start. Nothing was for sure, but I was ready." - Maya, on his spot start.