Game 33 lineups: Nats vs. Mets

Almost halfway through this six-game homestand, the Nationals need to win this afternoon to earn a series victory against the Mets before the Astros come to town this weekend.

In the four home series before this one, the Nationals went 0-3-1, with the one tie coming in a four-game series three weeks ago in which they won the first two games against the Diamondbacks before dropping the last two.

Joan Adon looks to give the Nats an opportunity to win just their fifth home game of the season. The 23-year-old right-hander is 1-5 with a 6.99 ERA and coming off an outing in which he struck out a season-high six batters against the Angels. 

Adon faced this Mets squad in his season debut on April 9, giving up four runs on four hits and four walks while striking out three over 4 1/3 innings in a 5-0 loss.

Right-hander Taijuan Walker makes his fourth start for the Mets this season and first that won’t come against the Phillies. The 29-year-old is 0-0 with a 4.91 ERA over 11 innings in his three outings against Philadelphia. The Mets went 1-2 in those games, but the one victory came a week ago after Walker gave up seven runs (six earned) and nine hits in just four innings only to watch the Phillies bullpen completely implode while giving up seven runs in the ninth for an 8-7 Mets win.

In four career starts against Washington, Walker is 1-1 with a 5.24 ERA and 0-1 with a 7.63 ERA in three starts at Nationals Park.

Alcides Escobar remains out of the lineup while dealing with an infection under the nail of his left index finger, but Davey Martinez expects him to return to the lineup Friday. Dee Strange-Gordon is back at shortstop and batting eighth.

NEW YORK METS at WASHINGTON NATIONALS
Where: Nationals Park
Gametime: 1:05 p.m. EDT
TV: MASN, MLB Network (outside of D.C. market)
Radio: 106.7 The Fan, MLB.com
Weather: Cloudy, 68 degrees, wind 9 mph in from right-center field 

NATIONALS
2B César Hernández
RF Juan Soto
1B Josh Bell
DH Nelson Cruz
LF Yadiel Hernandez
C Keibert Ruiz
3B Maikel Franco
SS Dee Strange-Gordon
CF Lane Thomas 

RHP Joan Adon

METS
CF Brandon Nimmo
RF Starling Marte
SS Francisco Lindor
1B Pete Alonso
2B Jeff McNeil
LF Mark Canha
DH J.D. Davis
3B Luis Guillorme
C Tomás Nido 

RHP Taijuan Walker