Mets at Nationals (Game 1)
The Washington Nationals are cruising to a National League East crown despite a long injury list by taking advantage of the rest of the teams in their division. The Nationals will try to continue their success against the rival New York Mets when they host a doubleheader on Sunday.
Washington lost first baseman Ryan Zimmerman to a shoulder injury before the series and dropped Friday's opener but bounced back by showing off the depth in their lineup on Saturday, including No. 8 hitter Adrian Sanchez taking a fastball off the chest on a bunt attempt and then getting back up and lacing an RBI single. "That picked our team up and it brought the house down too," Nationals manager Dusty Baker told reporters. "Because everybody here loves Sanchy and we're all pulling for him big time. That was a big hit he got." The Mets have dropped 10 of the 14 meetings with Washington this season and 10 of their last 13 overall. New York will try to turn the momentum with Tommy Milone going to the mound in the first game and Seth Lugo in the second while the Nationals counter with right-handers Erick Fedde and Tanner Roark.
TV: 1:35 p.m. ET, SNY (New York), MASN 2 (Washington)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Mets LH Tommy Milone (1-3, 8.12 ERA) vs. Nationals RH Erick Fedde (0-1, 10.61)
Milone (knee) came off the disabled list on Tuesday and was ripped for six runs - five earned - on five hits and a walk in 4 2/3 innings to suffer the loss. The USC product absorbed the loss in each of his last three starts, dating back to May 16, while surrendering a combined 19 runs - 17 earned - in 11 2/3 frames. Milone, who began his career in Washington in 2011, won his only previous start against his original franchise by firing eight scoreless innings as a member of the Oakland Athletics on May 9, 2014.
Fedde struggled in his first taste of the major leagues, allowing a combined 11 runs on 18 hits and six walks in 9 1/3 innings against Colorado and the Chicago Cubs. The Las Vegas native is 4-5 with a 3.69 ERA in 29 games - 13 starts - split between Double-A Harrisburg and Triple-A Syracuse this season. Fedde pitched well in his last two minor-league outings, allowing a total of five runs in 13 innings.
WALK-OFFS
1. The Mets placed OF Yoenis Cespedes (hamstring) on the 10-day DL on Saturday and fear he could miss the rest of the season.
2. Washington 1B Adam Lind is 4-for-8 with a homer and three RBIs while starting in place of Zimmerman in the series.
3. New York RHP Matt Harvey (shoulder) allowed five runs - three earned - in 4 2/3 innings on Saturday in a rehab start for Double-A Binghamton.