Game 23 lineups: Nats vs. Mets

When the Nationals last played in D.C., Blake Treinen was the closer, Trea Turner was on the disabled list, Joe Ross was in the minors, the Capitals and Maple Leafs were only two games into their first-round playoff series, the Wizards hadn't opened their playoff run yet and the Nats needed Bryce Harper's walk-off homer to avoid falling to .500.

So, basically, nothing has really changed since then, right?

Who knew the Nationals' 10-game road trip through Atlanta, New York and Colorado would be so momentous, let alone include nine wins and only one loss? And who knew the Mets, during that same timeframe, would completely fall apart both in the won-loss column and in the injury department?

The end result? The first-place Nats open tonight's series with a 7 1/2-game lead over the club that is supposed to be their biggest division rival this season. There's an awful lot of baseball yet to be played, but it's hard to have envisioned a rosier scenario for the Nationals through the season's first 22 games.

Max Scherzer will look to keep the run going tonight against Jacob deGrom, whom the Nationals defeated six nights ago at Citi Field ...

NEW YORK METS at WASHINGTON NATIONALS
Where: Nationals Park
Gametime: 7:05 p.m. EDT
TV: MASN2, MLB.tv
Radio: 106.7 FM, XM 89/869, MLB.com
Weather: Mostly clear, 81 degrees, wind 8 mph right field to left field

NATIONALS (16-6)
CF Adam Eaton
SS Trea Turner
RF Bryce Harper
1B Ryan Zimmerman
2B Daniel Murphy
3B Anthony Rendon
LF Jayson Werth
C Matt Wieters
RHP Max Scherzer

METS (8-13)
LF Michael Conforto
SS Asdrúbal Cabrera
RF Jay Bruce
2B Neil Walker
CF Curtis Granderson
3B Jose Reyes
1B T.J. Rivera
C Travis d'Arnaud
RHP Jacob deGrom