Nationals at Mets
Returning home was the perfect elixir for the New York Mets, who have a chance to move into first place in the National League East when they host the Washington Nationals on Wednesday in the second of a three-game set. The Mets moved within a half-game of division-leading Washington and snapped a four-game skid with a 2-0 victory in the series opener.
New York went with a patchwork lineup in the series opener as corner infielders David Wright and Lucas Duda were both sidelined due to back issues. Curtis Granderson, who was 2-for-19 in his previous five games, picked up the slack by reaching base on all four plate appearances, including a leadoff homer in the first inning that gave the Mets the only run they would need. The Nationals have scored two runs during their three-game losing streak and have collected a total of 17 hits during that span. Washington second baseman Daniel Murphy went 1-for-3 in his first trip back to Citi Field and saw his major league-leading batting average drop one point below .400.
TV: 7:10 p.m. ET, ESPN
PITCHING MATCHUP: Nationals LH Gio Gonzalez (2-1, 1.93 ERA) vs. Mets RH Bartolo Colon (3-2, 2.53)
Gonzalez rebounded from his worst start of the season by holding Miami to two runs (zero earned) on six hits over five innings in his second straight no-decision last time out. The 30-year-old veteran was rocked for five runs in 5 2/3 innings in his previous turn at the Chicago Cubs -- the only start in which he has allowed more than two earned runs. Gonzalez is 9-4 with a 2.66 ERA against New York, but must be wary of Juan Lagares, who is 10-for-26 against him.
Matched up against Dodgers left-hander Clayton Kershaw, Colon put the Mets in a 4-0 first-inning hole and wound up charged with five runs on seven hits over five innings to snap his five-start unbeaten string. The soon-to-be 43-year-old Dominican, who did not allow more than three runs in either of his first six starts, is 3-5 with a 3.17 ERA lifetime against the Nationals. Ben Revere has been mired in a deep slump for Washington, but he is 8-for-21 against Colon.
WALK-OFFS
1. Mets LF Michael Conforto homered Tuesday to run his hitting streak to five games.
2. Nationals RF Bryce Harper is 0-for-9 over the past three games.
3. Mets LHP Steven Matz (forearm), who had to skip his last turn, will pitch a bullpen session Wednesday and is expected to start Friday.