Washington @ New York preview

Last Meeting ( Sep 13, 2011 ) Washington 3, NY Mets 2

THE STORY: The New York Mets' hopes of their first winning season since 2008 grow slimmer every day. Now they're simply trying to hold onto third place in the National League East. The Washington Nationals have inched within a game of the Mets for that spot, and they'll try to pull even when the teams continue their four-game series Wednesday in New York. Washington has won the first two games of the set to even the season series at eight games apiece.

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

PITCHING MATCHUP: Nationals RH Brad Peacock (0-0, 6.75 ERA) vs. Mets RH Mike Pelfrey (7-11, 4.66).

Peacock will make his first major-league start with hopes that it goes better than his major league debut Sept. 6. In his only previous big league game, Peacock allowed a run and four hits in 1 1/3 innings of relief against the Dodgers, and he also issued a walk. The Nationals hope Peacock can be closer to the dominant pitcher who was 15-3 with a 2.39 ERA in 25 games (23 starts) between Triple A Syracuse and Double A Harrisburg. Pelfrey has only one win in eight starts since July 27, and he is winless in his last three starts. The Mets have won three of his last four outings, though, and he was solid Friday against the Chicago Cubs, allowing three runs over 6 2/3 innings of a 5-4 Mets victory. He didn't fare as well Sept. 4 at Washington, walking five and lasting only 4 2/3 innings, but the Mets won 6-3. Pelfrey is 4-6 with a 4.30 ERA in 17 starts against the Nationals.

ABOUT THE NATIONALS (69-77): Washington has won three straight for the first time since a four-game winning streak from July 30-Aug. 2. The Nationals' bullpen has come up big in the series, working 7 1/3 innings of scoreless relief. Washington relievers had not allowed a hit in the series until closer Drew Storen gave up a pair of two-out singles in the ninth inning Tuesday.

ABOUT THE METS (71-77): The Mets have lost six of seven to start their nine-game homestand. The offense has struggled in the first two games of the series, managing only three hits in Monday's 3-2 loss and stranding 10 runners in another 3-2 loss Tuesday. Leadoff man Jose Reyes continues to hit, though - he went 3-for-4 on Tuesday to raise his average to .333, four points ahead of Milwaukee's Ryan Braun for the National League lead.

FINAL PITCH: Tuesday's win gave the Nationals 69 victories, matching last season's win total, which was their highest since they went 73-89 in 2007. The franchise's best record since moving to Washington was in 2005, when the Nationals were 81-81.