If the Nationals are going to halt their six-game skid, they're going to need a decent start from right-hander Erick Fedde (6-9, 5.08 ERA), who goes in the seven-inning opener of a doubleheader this afternoon.
Though he's coming off a loss to the Mets on Sunday at Citi FIeld, Fedde has won two of his last three outings after a stretch that saw him drop four consecutive decisions. In his 9-4 loss to the Mets in his last start, Fedde allowed six runs (five earned) on eight hits over 5 1/3 innings with a walk and six strikeouts.
A new grip on his curveball, taught to him by reliever Sam Clay, has produced 16 strikeouts in his last two games, including a season-high 10 whiffs on Aug. 24 at Miami.
Righty Marcus Stroman (9-12, 2.85 ERA) will start for the Mets, who have won five straight. Stroman was 2-3 with a 3.60 ERA in six August starts.
Current Nationals slash a cumulative .258/.327/.405 off Stroman. Juan Soto is 3-for-7 with a homer and two RBIs off him, while Lane Thomas and Andrew Stevenson both own 2-for-3 logs off Stroman.
Note: The Nationals selected the contract of left-hander Josh Rogers from Triple-A Rochester, as he will be the 29th man for today's doubleheader, and he'll likely start the nightcap. To make room on the 40-man roster, right-hander Kyle McGowin was moved to the 60-day injured list.
NEW YORK METS at WASHINGTON NATIONALS
Where: Nationals Park
Gametime: 1:05 p.m. EDT
TV: MASN2
Radio: 106.7 FM, MLB.com
Weather: Partly cloudy, 76 degrees, wind 4 mph out to left field
NATIONALS
CF Lane Thomas
SS Alcides Escobar
RF Juan Soto
1B Josh Bell
LF Yadiel Hernandez
C Keibert Ruiz
3B Carter Kieboom
2B Luis GarcÃa
RHP Erick Fedde
METS
3B Jonathan Villar
CF Brandon Nimmo
SS Francisco Lindor
1B Pete Alonso
RF Michael Conforto
2B Javier Báez
LF Jeff McNeil
C Patrick Mazeika
RHP Marcus Stroman