Washington @ New York preview
Citi Field
Last Meeting ( Sep 14, 2011 ) Washington 2, NY Mets 0
THE STORY: From veterans to rookies, journeymen to prospects, all the Washington Nationals' pitchers have had one thing in common this week – they've shut down the New York Mets. Having allowed only four runs while winning the first three games of their series at Citi Field, the Nationals will try to continue to stymie the Mets and finish a four-game sweep Thursday afternoon. The Nationals lead the season series 9-8 and have pulled even with the Mets for third place in the National League East.
TV: 1:10 p.m. ET, MASN (Washington), SNY (New York)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Nationals LH Tommy Milone (0-0, 6.30 ERA) vs. Mets RH Chris Schwinden (0-1, 9.00 ERA).
Milone made his major league debut against the Mets on Sept. 3 and struggled a bit, allowing four runs in 4 1/3 innings, though the Nationals rallied for an 8-7 win. He was better in his second start Friday against Houston, giving up three runs in 5 2/3 innings, but he's still looking for his first big-league win. A 10th-round pick in 2008 out of Southern Cal, Milone was 12-6 with a 3.22 ERA in 24 starts for Triple-A Syracuse this season.
Schwinden is also looking for his first major league win as he makes his second career start. He was roughed up for five runs in five innings of a 6-5 loss Thursday against Atlanta. A 22nd-round pick in 2008, Schwinden was 8-8 with a 3.95 ERA in 26 starts at Triple-A Buffalo this season.
ABOUT THE NATIONALS (70-77): Washington has won four straight for the first time since July 30-Aug. 2 and surpassed last season's win total. The 70 wins are the team's most since going 73-89 in 2007. The offense has been less than stellar in the series, scoring only eight runs in three games, but the pitching staff has made up for it, particularly the bullpen. Washington relievers have worked 11 1/3 scoreless innings in the series.
ABOUT THE METS (71-78): New York has lost seven of eight on its homestand, which wraps up Thursday. The Mets' offense has been especially quiet in the series, managing only three hits in the opener and stranding 10 runners in each of the past two games. Leadoff man Jose Reyes left four of those men on base Wednesday, including two when Rick Ankiel's diving catch in center field robbed him of an extra-base hit that probably would have tied the game. Reyes went 1-for-5 to lower his average two points to .331. He leads Milwaukee's Ryan Braun by two points in the NL batting race.
FINAL PITCH: The Nationals are on the verge of their best finish in the NL East since moving to Washington. The franchise hasn't finished outside the bottom two in the division since 2002, when the team still played in Montreal.