Latos will start opener vs. Mets, Cole on Tuesday (updated)

The Nationals wrap up their 19-game season series with the Mets this week, but they'll do so without having named two of their three scheduled starting pitchers.

The Nats, for now, are listing both Monday and Tuesday's starters as "TBA," with only Wednesday starter Tanner Roark officially named.

Stephen Strasburg would have been lined up to start the opener against New York, but the right-hander has been shut down after straining the flexor mass in his elbow Wednesday night against the Braves. That likely leaves manager Dusty Baker to choose between a couple of rookies or a recently acquired veteran to take Strasburg's place.

Rookies Lucas Giolito and Reynaldo Lopez are both available. Giolito pitched 3 1/3 innings of relief on Wednesday after Strasburg's early departure, and thus is on normal rest. Lopez, meanwhile, hasn't pitched since last Sunday night in New York, when he threw 85 pitches in only four innings, though he did warm up in the bullpen at one point during Friday night's game for possible use during extra innings.

Giolito and Lopez have both faced the Mets this season, with less-than-stellar results. Lopez labored during that nationally televised game last week, giving up three runs in his four innings. Giolito, meanwhile, made his first two career starts against the Mets earlier this summer, tossing four scoreless innings in a rain-shortened debut, but then putting 11 batters on base in only 3 2/3 innings his next time against them.

The veteran option for Monday night's game would be Mat Latos, who has appeared twice out of the bullpen his since promotion from Triple-A Syracuse at the start of the month, but has thrown only 2 1/3 total innings.

As for Tuesday night's game, A.J. Cole appears the most likely choice for the Nationals. The rookie right-hander, who last pitched Thursday against the Phillies, would be on normal rest. He also faced the Mets last week at Citi Field, giving up one run in six innings to earn his first career win.

Max Scherzer and Gio Gonzalez, who started the final two games of this weekend's series, won't be available again until this weekend in Atlanta. Right-hander Joe Ross, who threw a simulated game Saturday, may be ready to come off the disabled list later this week, but not in time for the Mets series.

The Mets, who enter play today trailing the Nationals by nine games in the National League East with 20 to play, have named right-handers Rafael Montero, Noah Syndergaard and Robert Gsellman as their starters for the upcoming series.

Update: Following today's game, the Nationals announced that Latos will start Monday night's opener, with Cole starting Tuesday night.

The announcement came after Dusty Baker held his postgame news conference, and after reporters were finished conducting interviews in the clubhouse. When asked at the time about it, Baker said "we haven't figured it out yet," suggesting the decision was between using a rookie who had struggled vs. the Mets (ie. Giolito or Lopez) and someone else (ie. Latos).

This will be Latos' first start with the Nationals. He started 11 games for the White Sox earlier this season, going 6-2 with a 4.62 ERA.