Nationals at Mets
The Washington Nationals were left with a bitter taste in their mouths earlier this month after the New York Mets sauntered into the nation's capital and recorded a three-game sweep. The Nationals look to return the favor at Citi Field on Wednesday, two days removed from overcoming a five-run deficit in the opener before posting a 5-2 triumph the following night.
Trea Turner has reached base 13 times in his last five games, answering a two-hit performance in the series opener with a three-hit effort on Tuesday to raise his batting average 31 points to .250. Bryce Harper opened the scoring with a sacrifice fly in the third inning, marking his seventh RBI versus the Mets this season. While Washington has won three of four to even its record at 9-9 and improve to 6-2 on the road, New York (12-4) saw its streak of five series victories come to an end on Tuesday with its third loss in four games. "We had a few opportunities where we were one swing away a few times. We just didn't get it done," Mets manager Mickey Callaway said after seeing his team go 0-for-9 with runners in scoring position on Tuesday.
TV: 7:10 p.m. ET, MASN (Washington), SNY (New York)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Nationals RH Tanner Roark (1-1, 3.50 ERA) vs. Mets LH Steven Matz (1-1, 3.77)
Roark, who owns a 7-2 mark with a 3.13 ERA in 18 career meetings with the Mets, was able to walk away with a no-decision on April 8 despite allowing five runs on as many hits while issuing four free passes. The 31-year-old pitched significantly better five days later but was saddled with his first loss after permitting two runs on three hits in six innings of a 2-1 setback to Colorado. Roark has enjoyed the upper hand versus Yoenis Cespedes (2-for-16), Wilmer Flores (2-for-13) and Juan Lagares (3-for-17).
Matz surrendered two homers for the second time in three outings but escaped with a victory versus Milwaukee on Friday. The 26-year-old, who owns a 1-2 career mark with a slim 1.85 ERA against Washington, kept the ball in the park and struck out eight in a no-decision against the Nationals on April 7. Matz has flustered Harper (2-for-11) and Ryan Zimmerman (0-for-11) while limiting the current roster to a .196 batting average with 23 strikeouts in 97 at-bats.
WALK-OFFS
1. New York OF Jay Bruce is 1-for-15 with five strikeouts in his last seven games.
2. Washington OF Michael Taylor has scored five times in his last four contests.
3. Mets SS Jose Reyes is 0-for-17 with four strikeouts this season.