New York Mets (26-31, fourth in the NL East) vs. Washington Nationals (23-34, fifth in the NL East)
Washington; Saturday, 3:05 p.m. EDT
PITCHING PROBABLES: New York: Rick Porcello (1-6, 5.46 ERA) Washington: Max Scherzer (4-4, 3.67 ERA)
LINE: Nationals favored by 1 1/2 runs; over/under is 8 1/2 runs
BOTTOM LINE: New York heads into the matchup after a strong showing by David Peterson. Peterson pitched seven innings, surrendering one run on four hits with four strikeouts against Washington.
The Nationals are 14-23 against teams from the NL East. The Washington offense has compiled a .262 batting average as a team this season, good for fifth in the league. Juan Soto leads the team with an average of .351.
The Mets are 17-20 against division opponents. The New York offense has compiled a .273 batting average as a team this season, good for first in the National League. Dominic Smith leads the team with a mark of .322.
TOP PERFORMERS: Trea Turner leads the Nationals with 29 extra base hits and is batting .335.
Jeff McNeil leads the Mets with 56 hits and is batting .320.
INJURIES: Nationals: Stephen Strasburg: (hand), Seth Romero: (right hand), Tanner Rainey: (forearm), Javy Guerra: (hamstring), Sam Freeman: (elbow), Roenis Elias: (elbow), Sean Doolittle: (oblique), James Bourque: (right elbow), Aaron Barrett: (right triceps), Dakota Bacus: (right flexor), Adam Eaton: (finger), Carter Kieboom: (left wrist), Howie Kendrick: (left hamstring), Starlin Castro: (wrist).
Mets: Noah Syndergaard: (elbow), Robert Gsellman: (rib), Jake Marisnick: (right hamstring), Michael Conforto: (hamstring), Eduardo Nunez: (knee), Jed Lowrie: (knee), Rene Rivera: (elbow), Tomas Nido: (undisclosed).
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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
