Game 26 lineups: Nats vs. Mets

After taking two of three from the Orioles, the Nationals welcome another familiar foe – and a couple of former friends – to D.C. in the Mets. This four-game wraparound series provides another difficult home test for the local ballclub.

The Mets are the fifth visiting team the Nats will face that entered the season with October aspirations as they hold the best record in the major leagues. And of course, Juan Soto returns to Nationals Park for the first time wearing a Mets uniform after signing to his record-breaking contract over the offseason.

Gotta beat the best to be the best.

Jake Irvin will take the mound for his sixth start of the season in Friday’s series opener. The big right-hander is coming off back-to-back strong starts in which he shut out the Pirates over seven innings and then struck out nine Rockies over 6 ⅓ frames.

The last time Irvin faced the Mets in this ballpark, he shut them out over eight innings of one-hit ball with eight strikeouts on the Fourth of July.

Kodai Senga will take the mound for the Mets. The Japanese right-hander is off to a stellar start to his third major league season after missing most of last year with a shoulder injury. Senga is 3-1 with a 0.79 ERA and 0.971 WHIP over his first four outings. He has not given up a run since his first start on April 1 against the Marlins.

Nats hitters will have to be patient against Senga’s “ghost” forkball, which he throws 26.7 percent of the time.

WASHINGTON NATIONALS vs. NEW YORK METS
Where: Nationals Park
Gametime: 6:45 p.m. EDT
TV: MASN, MLB.tv
Radio: 106.7 The Fan, DC 87.7 (Spanish), MLB.com
Weather: Cloudy, 78 degrees, wind 12 mph out to left field

NATIONALS
SS CJ Abrams
LF James Wood
1B Nathaniel Lowe
C Keibert Ruiz
2B Luis García Jr.
DH Josh Bell
RF Dylan Crews
3B José Tena
CF Jacob Young

RHP Jake Irvin

METS
SS Francisco Lindor
RF Juan Soto
1B Pete Alonso
LF Brandon Nimmo
3B Mark Vientos
DH Jesse Winker
C Francisco Alvarez
2B Jeff McNeil
CF Tyrone Taylor

RHP Kodai Senga