NY METS vs LA DODGERS
GAME: New York Mets (26-27) at Los Angeles Dodgers (36-18)
DATE/TIME: Tuesday, May 28 – 10:10 PM EST
WHERE: Dodger Stadium, Los Angeles, California

TV: 10:10 p.m. ET, MLB Network, SNY (New York), SportsNet LA (Los Angeles)
LINE: -195
PREDICTION: Dodgers 7, Mets 4

Oddsmakers currently have the LA DODGERS listed as -195 point favorites versus the NY METS, while the game’s total is sitting at 8.

Cody Bellinger used both his bat and arm to help the Los Angeles Dodgers win the series opener and looks to inflict more damage on Tuesday in the second contest of their four-game set against the visiting New York Mets. Bellinger belted his 19th home run and threw out two baserunners – one at the plate and another at third base – as the Dodgers recorded a 9-5 triumph on Monday.

Bellinger has been a force all season, and his heroics on Monday helped Los Angeles win for the 10th time in 12 games. The Dodgers have scored 37 runs during their four-game winning streak and at least six in nine of their last 10 victories. New York was coming off a 6-1 homestand and recorded 15 hits in the series opener but stranded 10 baserunners. Adeiny Hechavarria went 3-for-5 with a homer and Amed Rosario also registered three hits as the Mets scored at least five runs for the seventh time in eight contests.

PITCHING MATCHUP: Mets LH Steven Matz (3-3, 3.63 ERA) vs. Dodgers LH Rich Hill (1-1, 2.67)

Matz settled for a no-decision against Washington in his last start after giving up just one run and 10 hits over six innings. He served up three home runs while working a total of 9 1/3 total frames in his previous two turns – both losses. Matz, who turns 28 on Wednesday, is 2-1 with a 3.86 ERA in four career starts against the Dodgers and has allowed two homers by Justin Turner (3-for-12).

Hill has put together two strong efforts, going 1-0 with 17 strikeouts while allowing one run and seven hits over 12 innings. The 39-year-old has given up five hits or fewer in four of his five turns and owns a solid 1.07 WHIP. Hill is 2-2 with a 7.45 ERA in eight career appearances (six starts) against the Mets.

WALK-OFFS

1. The Dodgers activated RHP Joe Kelly from the bereavement list, placed Austin Barnes (groin) on the 10-day injured list and recalled fellow C Will Smith from Oklahoma City while optioning LHP Caleb Ferguson to the Triple-A club.

2. New York CF Juan Lagares was hitless in three at-bats on Monday and is just 1-for-24 over his last nine contests.

3. Los Angeles OF-INF Chris Taylor went 3-for-5 with a homer in the series opener and has gone 7-for-13 with four runs scored over his last four games.

PREDICTION: Dodgers 7, Mets 4

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NY METS vs LA DODGERS
GAME: New York Mets (26-26) at Los Angeles Dodgers (35-18)
DATE/TIME: Monday, May 27 – 8:10 PM EST
WHERE: Dodger Stadium, Los Angeles, California

TV: 8:10 p.m. ET, ESPN, SNY (New York), SportsNet LA (Los Angeles)
LINE: -165
PREDICTION: Dodgers 3, Mets 2

Oddsmakers currently have the LA DODGERS listed as -165 point favorites versus the NY METS, while the game’s total is sitting at 6.5.

Jacob deGrom will square off against a three-time Cy Young Award winner for the second time in as many starts on Monday when the visiting New York Mets play the opener of a four-game series versus the Los Angeles Dodgers. DeGrom, who is the reigning award winner, will test his mettle against Clayton Kershaw after receiving a no-decision versus Max Scherzer on Wednesday.

Former Met Justin Turner returned from a day off to go 5-for-5 with three runs scored on Sunday as Los Angeles posted its third straight win and ninth in 11 outings with an 11-7 victory over Pittsburgh. While the 34-year-old has hit in four straight games in which he’s played, he is a disastrous 1-for-19 in his career versus deGrom. New York has quieted the talk surrounding manager Mickey Callaway’s job security by winning six of its last seven, highlighted by overcoming an early three-run deficit with Sunday’s 4-3 victory over Detroit. Adeiny Hechavarria belted a three-run homer for the second time in three games on Sunday, but is 1-for-10 in his career versus Kershaw.

PITCHING MATCHUP: Mets RH Jacob deGrom (3-5, 3.72 ERA) vs. Dodgers LH Clayton Kershaw (4-0, 3.33)

DeGrom overcame Adam Eaton’s solo homer on his fourth pitch in the first inning to allow just one more hit while striking out eight in six innings against Washington. The 30-year-old has been taken deep three times in his last four contests, although his road ERA (3.30) is over three-quarters of a run better (4.18) that his total at Citi Field. Joc Pederson (2-for-14) and Cody Bellinger (1-for-8) have struggled against deGrom, who owns an 0-4 mark in eight career starts versus the Dodgers despite posting a 3.20 ERA and 1.01 WHIP.

While deGrom’s record versus Los Angeles leaves a bit to be desired, Kershaw owns a sparkling 8-0 mark with a 1.98 ERA and 0.97 WHIP in 13 career meetings against New York. The 31-year-old Kershaw yielded two runs on six hits and matched a season high by striking out eight in 6 1/3 innings of a 7-3 win at Tampa Bay on Tuesday. Kershaw, who is 3-0 with a 3.25 ERA in four starts at home, kept the ball in the park after surrendering five homers in his previous three outings.

WALK-OFFS

1. Los Angeles will bid to become the second team in the majors to win 20 games at home (Houston).

2. New York rookie 1B Pete Alonso is 4-for-26 with 11 strikeouts in his last eight games.

3. Dodgers OF Alex Verdugo (back) is expected to return to the lineup for the series opener, manager Dave Roberts told reporters on Sunday.

PREDICTION: Dodgers 3, Mets 2

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DETROIT vs NY METS
GAME: Detroit Tigers (19-30) at New York Mets (25-26)
DATE/TIME: Sunday, May 26 – 1:10 PM EST
WHERE: Citi Field, New York City, New York

TV: 1:10 p.m. ET, FS Detroit, WPIX (New York)
LINE: -170
PREDICTION: Mets 5, Tigers 3

Oddsmakers currently have the NY METS listed as -170 point favorites versus the DETROIT, while the game’s total is sitting at 8.

The New York Mets limped into their current homestand having lost five in a row, but they have been rejuvenated by familiar surroundings while showing a flair for the dramatic on a near daily basis. New York looks to make it six wins in their last seven when it squares off with the visiting Detroit Tigers in the rubber match of a three-game set on Sunday afternoon.

The Mets got all their runs from the catcher position as Wilson Ramos homered twice and had four RBIs before Tomás Nido clubbed a walk-off homer in the bottom of the 13th in Saturday’s 5-4 victory. “Felt like (Hall of Fame catcher) Mike Piazza was back there,” New York manager Mickey Callaway told reporters after his team won for the fourth time in its final at-bat over the past five games. One day after ending a nine-game losing streak, the Tigers stranded 14 runners and squandered a career-best four-hit day game by Dawel Lugo. Detroit also was 1-for-13 with runners in scoring position, getting a tying RBI single from JaCoby Jones, who is 4-for-10 with five RBIs in the series.

PITCHING MATCHUP: Tigers RH Spencer Turnbull (2-3, 2.68 ERA) vs. Mets RH Zack Wheeler (3-3, 4.74)

Turnbull did not factor in the decision against Miami on Tuesday after allowing three runs on seven hits over five innings, which followed a rocky outing in which he was reached for six runs – one earned – in a season low-tying four innings versus Oakland. Prior to that defeat, the 26-year-old rookie was unbeaten in five consecutive starts while permitting a total of five runs. Turnbull is 2-1 with a 2.49 ERA in four road starts while holding opposing batters to a meager .184 average.

Wheeler worked seven innings for the fifth time in seven starts last time out against Washington, but he wound up with a no-decision after giving up three runs on four hits, including a pair of home runs. He was rocked by the Nationals for six runs and 11 hits in his previous turn, which followed a four-start stretch in which he recorded double-digit strikeouts on three occasions. Josh Harrison is 1-for-6 with a double and two strikeouts against Wheeler, who will be facing Detroit for the first time.

WALK-OFFS

1. Ramos is 7-for-11 with three homers, seven RBIs and five runs scored during a three-game hitting streak.

2. Tigers 1B-OF Brandon Dixon had a pinch-hit two-run homer Saturday after delivering a pinch-hit RBI single in the series opener.

3. Mets RHP Edwin Diaz blew his first save chance of the season after converting his first 12.

PREDICTION: Mets 5, Tigers 3

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WASHINGTON vs NY METS
GAME: Washington Nationals (19-29) at New York Mets (22-25)
DATE/TIME: Wednesday, May 22 – 7:10 PM EST
WHERE: Citi Field, New York City, New York

TV: 7:10 p.m. ET, MLB Network, MASN2 (Washington), SNY (New York)
LINE: -105
PREDICTION: Mets 2, Nationals 1

Oddsmakers currently have the NY METS listed as -105 point favorites versus the WASHINGTON, while the game’s total is sitting at 6.5.

Three-time Cy Young Award winner Max Scherzer and the reigning National League recipient Jacob deGrom will renew acquaintances in a rematch of Opening Day starters on Wednesday at Citi Field. Although Scherzer allowed just two runs on two hits and struck out 12, deGrom fanned 10 over six innings as the New York Mets posted a 2-0 win over the Washington Nationals on March 28.

New York rookie Pete Alonso went deep for the second time in the series by launching a towering game-tying homer in the eighth inning before Amed Rosario’s infield single with two outs in the ninth plated the winning run in Tuesday’s 6-5 win. Alonso, whose 16th homer snapped the Mets rookie record for long balls before the All-Star break, is 13-for-39 with four homers, nine RBIs and seven runs scored versus the Nationals. Washington’s Juan Soto homered on Tuesday to extend his hitting streak to five games, during which he is batting 8-for-19 with four extra-base hits and six RBIs. The Nationals, however, haven’t benefited from that surge as they have lost four of five to fall a season-worst 10 games under .500.

PITCHING MATCHUP: Nationals RH Max Scherzer (2-5, 3.72 ERA) vs. Mets RH Jacob deGrom (3-5, 3.98)

Scherzer settled down after allowing three quick runs in the first two innings by tossing four scoreless frames on Friday, but he fell to 1-3 in his last six starts following a 14-6 setback to the Chicago Cubs. Although the 34-year-old’s record isn’t pretty by his lofty standards, he has registered quality starts in seven of his 10 outings and has struck out 87 batters against just 14 walks. Scherzer owns a 10-5 mark with a 2.59 ERA and 0.88 WHIP in 19 career appearances (18 starts) versus the Mets, with Juan Lagares (1-for-16, 11 strikeouts) struggling mightily against the hurler.

DeGrom aims to rebound from a dismal start in his last trip to the mound on Friday, as he allowed seven runs on nine hits in five innings of an 8-6 setback at Miami. The 30-year-old sports an 8-4 mark with a 2.50 ERA in 16 career starts against Washington, including a 5-1 record with a 1.50 ERA in his last seven. Michael Taylor (1-for-24, 13 strikeouts), Kurt Suzuki (1-for-12) and Anthony Rendon (2-for-26, seven strikeouts) have been flustered by deGrom in their careers.

WALK-OFFS

1. New York 2B Robinson Cano, who homered off Scherzer on Opening Day, is 1-for-11 in his last four games.

2. Rendon went 0-for-3 on Tuesday, ending his hit streak at seven games and run-scoring stretch at six consecutive contests.

3. Mets LHP Jason Vargas (left hamstring tightness) will throw a bullpen session on Wednesday and could be in line to pitch against Detroit this weekend.

PREDICTION: Mets 2, Nationals 1

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WASHINGTON vs NY METS
GAME: Washington Nationals (19-28) at New York Mets (21-25)
DATE/TIME: Tuesday, May 21 – 7:10 PM EST
WHERE: Citi Field, New York City, New York

TV: 7:10 p.m. ET, MASN2 (Washington), SNY (New York)
LINE: -140
PREDICTION: Nationals 4, Mets 2

Oddsmakers currently have the NY METS listed as -140 point favorites versus the WASHINGTON, while the game’s total is sitting at 7.5.

The New York Mets’ organization expressed faith in embattled manager Mickey Callaway before the opener of a four-game series with the Washington Nationals, and the team provided its support with a fast start en route to a 5-3 victory. The Mets look to ride the momentum of snapping a five-game skid into Tuesday’s contest against the visiting Nationals.

Amed Rosario and Pete Alonso each belted a homer in the first inning on Monday for the Mets, who enjoyed the early power display after mustering just three hits in the final two games of a sweep by majors-worst Miami. Alonso has three homers in his last four games overall and is 12-for-36 with three blasts and eight RBIs against Washington this season. The Nationals have dropped three of four overall and eight of 11 on the road this month to fall a season high-tying nine games under .500. Anthony Rendon has homered in three of his last four contests and owns eight RBIs along with 10 runs scored during his seven-game hitting streak.

PITCHING MATCHUP: Nationals RH Erick Fedde (0-0, 3.38 ERA) vs. Mets RH Zack Wheeler (3-3, 4.85)

Fedde will make his first start this season and 15th of his career on Tuesday when he takes the spot of fellow right-hander Anibal Sanchez, who was placed on the 10-day injured list with an ailing hamstring. The 26-year-old Fedde answered two scoreless innings of relief against the Mets last Tuesday by getting ripped for four runs on as many hits over 2 2/3 frames versus New York two nights later. Fedde also struggled against the Mets in an outing last season, as he permitted three runs and walked four batters across 3 1/3 innings of a no-decision on Sept. 23.

Wheeler will face the Nationals for the fourth time this season, and he has an 0-2 mark with a 9.77 ERA to show for it. The 28-year-old hasn’t helped himself with two homers and 10 walks as he has allowed 17 runs on 21 hits over 15 2/3 innings against Washington. Wheeler was gouged for six runs – with four coming in the first inning – on a career-high 11 hits in a 7-6 setback against the Nationals on Thursday.

WALK-OFFS

1. Washington LF Juan Soto is 6-for-15 with four RBIs during his four-game hitting streak.

2. New York OF Yoenis Cespedes, who hasn’t played this season due to a pair of surgeries on his heels, sustained multiple fractures on his right ankle as a result of an accident at his ranch in Port St. Lucie, Fla.

3. Nationals C Yan Gomes collected three hits in the opener after going 0-for-22 in his previous eight games.

PREDICTION: Nationals 4, Mets 2

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WASHINGTON vs NY METS
GAME: Washington Nationals (19-27) at New York Mets (20-25)
DATE/TIME: Monday, May 20 – 7:10 PM EST
WHERE: Citi Field, New York City, New York

TV: 7:10 p.m. ET, MASN 2 (Washington), SNY (New York)
LINE:
PREDICTION: Nationals 7, Mets 2

Oddsmakers currently have the NY METS listed as point favorites versus the WASHINGTON, while the game’s total is sitting at .

After losing two of three in Washington last week, the New York Mets were hoping to take out their frustrations on a struggling Miami Marlins team over the weekend. Those plans went completely awry, and the Mets now look to rebound as they begin a four-game series against the visiting Nationals on Monday.

New York was swept by a Miami club that entered the series with a major league-low 10 victories, getting outscored 13-6 as it was shut out in each of the final two games. Sunday’s 3-0 setback was the fifth in a row for the Mets, who likely will pull the plug on Mickey Callaway’s tenure as manager if their fortunes don’t turn in a hurry. The Nationals fell eight games under .500 and 1 1/2 behind New York for third place in the National League East with Sunday’s 6-5 home loss to the Chicago Cubs. Anthony Rendon homered to extend his hitting streak to six games, Howie Kendrick is riding a five-game streak after also going deep and Gerardo Parra registered his second three-hit performance in three contests for Washington, which has gone 3-7 on the road this month.

PITCHING MATCHUP: Nationals LH Patrick Corbin (4-1, 2.91 ERA) vs. Mets RH Drew Gagnon (1-0, 4.09)

Corbin will be facing a familiar foe as he makes his second straight start and fourth this season against the Mets. The 29-year-old New Yorker went 1-0 with a 2.70 ERA in the first three outings, posting the victory on Wednesday after allowing one run and four hits with a season high-tying 11 strikeouts over eight innings. The triumph improved Corbin to 2-4 with a 4.39 ERA in 11 starts and one relief appearance versus the Mets in his career.

Gagnon is expected to be called upon to make his first start of the season and the second of his brief career. The 28-year-old Californian’s first turn came in his major-league debut on July 10, when he suffered the loss against Philadelphia after yielding six runs and seven hits over 4 2/3 innings. Gagnon recorded a victory versus Washington last season after tossing two scoreless frames of relief and scattered three hits over 2 2/3 scoreless innings out of the bullpen against the Nationals on Wednesday.

WALK-OFFS

1. The Mets recorded a total of three hits in the back-to-back shutout losses after pounding out 12 in their series-opening loss to the Marlins.

2. Washington is expected to activate LHP Tony Sipp (oblique) from the injured list on Monday.

3. New York LHP Jason Vargas (hamstring) was sent to Double-A Binghamton for a rehab assignment.

PREDICTION: Nationals 7, Mets 2

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NY METS vs MIAMI
GAME: New York Mets (20-22) at Miami Marlins (10-31)
DATE/TIME: Friday, May 17 – 7:10 PM EST
WHERE: Marlins Park, Miami, Florida

TV: 7:10 p.m. ET, SNY (New York), FS Florida (Miami)
LINE: 215
PREDICTION: Mets 4, Marlins 0

Oddsmakers currently have the MIAMI listed as 215 point favorites versus the NY METS, while the game’s total is sitting at 6.5.

Reigning National League Cy Young Award winner Jacob deGrom went more than five weeks between victories, with both of them coming at the expense of the Miami Marlins. DeGrom will look to beat the major league-worst Marlins for the third time in as many attempts when he takes the mound for the New York Mets in the opener of a three-game set in Miami on Friday night.

The Mets have lost two in a row and could feature a patchwork lineup behind deGrom in the series opener as outfielders Michael Conforto and Jeff McNeil exited Thursday’s 7-6 loss at Washington. Conforto hit a three-run homer before colliding with teammate Robinson Cano and suffered a concussion that will land him on the seven-day injured list. “You never want to see that, especially with Mike,” New York pitcher Zack Wheeler said. “He’s one of our best players. It’s tough to see.” Everything about the Marlins has been tough to see — Miami is mired in a seven-game losing streak and was shut out in consecutive losses to Tampa Bay this week.

PITCHING MATCHUP: Mets RH Jacob deGrom (3-4, 3.26 ERA) vs. Marlins RH Trevor Richards (0-5, 4.46)

DeGrom was 0-4 during a five-start drought before getting back on the winning track against the Marlins on Saturday, striking out eight and yielding only one run and five hits while striking out eight. While he improved to 6-6 with a 3.24 ERA versus the Marlins with the win, the 30-year-old ace turned in an overpowering performance versus Miami on April 3 with 14 strikeouts over seven scoreless innings. Starlin Castro is 8-for-26 off deGrom, who has allowed three runs and 12 hits over his last three starts overall.

Richards remains in search of his first victory of the season, taking the loss last time out at the Chicago Cubs after giving up four runs and seven hits over five innings. Although he opened the season with three consecutive quality starts, he has been victimized by the long ball of late with six homers allowed in his last four turns and has not been helped by an offense that has produced two runs or fewer in six of his eight outings. Richards lost to deGrom in early April, giving up three runs over six innings.

WALK-OFFS

1. Mets SS Amed Rosario has hit safely in all five games versus the Marlins this year.

2. 2B Neil Walker is riding a nine-game hitting streak for Miami, which has lost seven in a row to the Mets.

3. McNeil, who is 3-for-5 against Richards, experienced abdominal discomfort Thursday but expects to play on the weekend.

PREDICTION: Mets 4, Marlins 0

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NY METS vs WASHINGTON
GAME: New York Mets (20-21) at Washington Nationals (17-25)
DATE/TIME: Thursday, May 16 – 1:05 PM EST
WHERE: Nationals Park, Washington, District of Columbia

TV: 1:05 p.m. ET, SNY (New York), MASN (Washington)
LINE: 120
PREDICTION: Mets 3, Nationals 2

Oddsmakers currently have the WASHINGTON listed as 120 point favorites versus the NY METS, while the game’s total is sitting at 9.

Washington’s Victor Robles is still learning the nuances of Major League Baseball but the Nationals are happy with the young Dominican’s progress. Robles leads the club with eight home runs and will try to go deep for a third straight contest when Washington hosts the New York Mets on Thursday afternoon in the rubber match of their three-game series.

“The biggest thing for him is to be consistent,” Nationals manager Dave Martinez told reporters. “… He’s 21 years old. But he’s handled himself really well. And he’s learning every single day.” Washington’s 5-1 victory Wednesday was only its sixth in the last 20 games and put the Nationals in a position to snap a seven-series winless streak (0-6-1). New York was held to four hits Wednesday as Robinson Cano went 0-for-4 with three strikeouts, leaving him 0-for-9 in the series and 6-for-33 in eight games versus Washington this season. Zack Wheeler takes the ball for the Mets on Thursday hoping for better results in his third start against the Nationals this season and he opposes Anibal Sanchez, who seeks his first victory of 2019.

PITCHING MATCHUP: Mets RH Zack Wheeler (3-2, 4.35 ERA) vs. Nationals RH Anibal Sanchez (0-6, 5.27)

Wheeler is 2-0 with a 2.67 ERA and 36 strikeouts in his last four starts after allowing two runs and nine hits while fanning 11 in seven innings of an 11-2 victory over Miami on Friday. The 28-year-old Georgia native has recorded five quality starts in his last six turns and sports a 1.35 WHIP this season – slightly above his 1.31 career number. Washington’s Adam Eaton is 9-for-15 with three walks against Wheeler, who is 4-9 with a 5.01 ERA in 15 starts versus the Nationals after allowing 11 runs in two turns over 9 2/3 innings to start the season.

Sanchez has lost five straight starts after allowing three runs and six hits (two home runs) over 4 1/3 innings of a 5-0 loss at Dodger Stadium on Friday. The 35-year-old Venezuelan, who is trying to avoid joining Jason Marquis (2010) as the only pitchers in Nationals history to start a season 0-7, has gotten past the sixth inning only once this season. Cano is 4-for-18 against Sanchez, who is 5-5 with a 4.13 ERA in 14 starts versus the Mets – 1-0, 4.50 in two turns last season.

WALK-OFFS

1. Washington 3B Anthony Rendon (.333) went 3-for-4 with an RBI and two runs scored Wednesday and is 13-for-29 with seven RBIs and 10 runs scored in eight games versus New York this season.

2. Mets RHP Jeurys Familia pitched a 1-2-3 eighth inning Wednesday in his first appearance after missing 12 games with a shoulder injury.

3. Nationals RHP Sean Doolittle (0.95 ERA) has allowed two runs while striking out 22 in 19 innings (18 games) after recording his 16th scoreless appearance Wednesday.

PREDICTION: Mets 3, Nationals 2

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MIAMI vs NY METS
GAME: Miami Marlins (10-29) at New York Mets (19-20)
DATE/TIME: Sunday, May 12 – 1:10 PM EST
WHERE: Citi Field, New York City, New York

TV: 1:10 p.m. ET, FS Florida (Miami), SNY (New York)
LINE: -155
PREDICTION: Mets 3, Marlins 2

Oddsmakers currently have the NY METS listed as -155 point favorites versus the MIAMI, while the game’s total is sitting at 7.

Michael Conforto may appear to be having a slightly above-average season for the New York Mets based on his overall numbers, but the Miami Marlins have yet to find a way to keep him from beating them. The Mets attempt to pull off their second three-game sweep of the Marlins this season when they host their National League East rivals on Sunday for the finale of their series.

Conforto has reached base safely at least twice in all five games against Miami this year and been even more of a nuisance in this series, going 5-for-6 with two homers and three RBIs to go along with a pair of walks and four runs scored. The 2017 All-Star, who is batting .274 overall, lifted his average versus the Marlins this season to .588 with a 2-for-3 performance in Saturday’s 4-1 triumph that featured an RBI single in the fourth inning and a solo blast in the sixth. While the Mets (19-20) moved within one game of .500 after beating Miami for the fifth time in as many tries this campaign, the major-league worst Marlins (10-29) have lost five straight overall contests and are the only NL team with fewer than 15 wins. Miami, which has dropped seven in a row to New York, has struggled mightily on offense for the better part of the last three weeks as it is averaging 2.5 runs while losing 14 of 18 games.

PITCHING MATCHUP: Marlins LH Caleb Smith (3-0, 2.11 ERA) vs. Mets RH Noah Syndergaard (2-3, 5.14)

Smith recorded his sixth consecutive quality start and registered a career-high 11 strikeouts against the Cubs in Chicago on Tuesday, but he had to settle for a no-decision despite yielding only two runs over 6 2/3 innings. The Sam Houston State product has yet to allow more than three runs in an outing and been particularly stingy over his last five turns, posting a 1.42 ERA and 41:9 strikeout-to-walk ratio. Smith’s only non-quality start in 2019 came in his season debut against the Mets on April 1, when he permitted two runs in five frames.

Syndergaard did not come close to repeating his masterful shutout against Cincinnati on May 2 in his last start as he settled for a no-decision in San Diego on Tuesday after giving up five runs – four earned – over six innings. The outing against the Padres marked the sixth time in eight turns the former All-Star has surrendered at least four earned runs. Syndergaard won all three of his starts against the Marlins last season and is 6-0 with a 1.84 ERA – his lowest mark against any opponent he has faced more than once – in eight career outings versus Miami.

WALK-OFFS

1. New York’s starting pitchers have posted a 1.72 ERA and recorded 38 strikeouts over 31 1/3 innings in five contests against the Marlins this season.

2. Miami is averaging 2.1 runs during its losing streak against the Mets.

3. New York OF Jeff McNeil, who went 1-for-4 atop the order on Saturday, is hitting .357 in 20 games in the leadoff spot and .522 in the first inning this season – the third-best mark in the majors.

PREDICTION: Mets 3, Marlins 2

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GAME: New York Mets (72-82) at Washington Nationals (77-77)
DATE/TIME: Saturday, September 22 – 4:05 PM EST
WHERE: Nationals Park, Washington, District of Columbia

TV: 4:05 PM
LINE: -170
PREDICTION: WASHINGTON , NY METS

Oddsmakers currently have the WASHINGTON listed as -170 point favorites versus the NY METS, while the game’s total is sitting at 9.

The Washington Nationals entered the season with expectations of winning a third consecutive National League East title. With eight games remaining, the goals are much more modest – a winning record – for the Nationals, who will try to rebound from consecutive losses when they continue a four-game set against the visiting New York Mets on Saturday afternoon.

Washington (77-77) could muster little offense against Mets ace Jacob deGrom in Friday’s 4-2 loss and was eliminated from NL East contention when first-place Atlanta beat Philadelphia. Nationals third baseman Anthony Rendon had a run-scoring single to extend his hitting streak to seven games and has at least one RBI (12 total) in six straight games. New York right fielder Jay Bruce had an RBI single and run-scoring double in Friday’s win and is 4-for-8 with a homer and four RBIs in the series. Catcher Devin Mesoraco, playing for the first time in 18 days, had two doubles and drove in a run as part of a 3-for-3 night.

TV: 4:05 p.m. ET, WPIX (New York), MASN 2 (Washington)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Mets RH Corey Oswalt (3-2, 6.31 ERA) vs. Nationals RH Austin Voth (0-1, 11.81)

Oswalt has worked primarily out of the bullpen for the past month, although he had an abbreviated start versus Philadelphia on Sept. 9, giving up two runs and five hits in three innings. He failed to retire a batter while giving up five runs to the Los Angeles Dodgers on Sept. 4 and served up a grand slam in a six-run ninth to Washington on Aug. 26. Oswalt pitched five innings of one-run ball against the Nationals on July 15.

Tanner Roark was scheduled to make the start but just returned to the team Friday after spending four days with his pregnant wife so the team pushed him back to next week. He will make his third major-league appearance and second start. Voth pitched a scoreless inning in relief at Atlanta on Sept. 14 but was rocked by the Mets for seven runs and nine hits over 4 1/3 innings in his major-league debut on July 14.

WALK-OFFS

1. Rendon, who has reached base in 29 straight games, is batting .393 (22-for-56) with 15 RBIs in 14 games against New York this season.

2. Mets RH Seth Lugo has 17 strikeouts in 12 1/3 innings over his last eight appearances.

3. Nationals RF Bryce Harper is in a 1-for-13 rut and remains three shy of his first 100-RBI season.

PREDICTION: Mets 6, Nationals 5

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