Opposite dugout: Healthy roster key to success for Mets

Manager: Mickey Callaway (1st season)

Record: 4-1

Last 10 games: 4-1

Who to watch: LF Yoenis Céspedes (.278 average with 2 HR, 6 RBIs); SS Amed Rosario (.333 average with 5 RBIs); 1B Adrián González (.308 average with .471 OBP); RHP Jacob deGrom (1-0, 1.59 ERA); RHP Matt Harvey (0-0, 0.00 ERA)

Season series vs. Nationals: First meeting (6-13 in 2017)

Pitching probables:

April 5: RHP Jacob deGrom (1-0) vs. RHP Stephen Strasburg (1-0); 1:05 p.m., MASN
April 7: LHP Steven Matz (0-1) vs. LHP Gio Gonzalez (1-0); 1:05 p.m., MASN
April 8: RHP Matt Harvey (0-0) vs. RHP Tanner Roark (1-0); 8:00 p.m.

Inside the Mets:

With the Nationals deemed the consensus favorite to capture the National League East title, it was imperative for the other teams in the division to get off to a fast start. One week into the season, the Mets can check that box. New York has raced out to a 4-1 start, including series wins over St. Louis and Philadelphia. As with most teams, the Mets' key to sustained success is staying healthy, a task easier said than done.

The Mets lineup is a combination of familiar faces and new arrivals. Yoenis Céspedes endured an injury-riddled campaign in 2017, and is looking to return to his form of 2016, when he hit 31 home runs and earned a Silver Slugger award. Through five games this season, Céspedes is off to a hot start, hitting .278 with a pair of home runs and six RBIs. Among the newcomers is a pair of grizzled veterans in Adrián González and Todd Frazier. González played the last six seasons with the Dodgers, and signed as a free agent with New York in the offseason. This season, he's batting .308 and leads his team with a .471 on-base percentage. Frazier, meanwhile, didn't have to travel quite as far as González, coming over from the Yankees in the offseason. Frazier's picked up four RBIs so far this year, but is still looking for his first home run.

Jacob deGrom will start Thursday's matinee opposite right-hander Stephen Strasburg. Both pitchers enjoyed tremendous debuts, particularly deGrom, who issued just one earned run and tallied seven strikeouts in a win against the Cardinals. deGrom went just 3-2 against the Nationals last season, but amassed a stellar 2.36 ERA in those five starts. It'll be a matchup between southpaws Saturday as Steven Matz battles Gio Gonzalez. Matz carries a career 2.17 ERA against the Nationals, and will hope that previous success carries over against a formidable Washington lineup. Gonzalez, meanwhile, picked up a quality start last Sunday in a win over the Reds. Sunday's starter, Matt Harvey, aims to stay off the disabled list this year. The right-hander tossed five shutout innings Tuesday in the Mets' 2-0 win over the Phillies. Harvey is 3-6 with a 3.16 career ERA against the Nationals.

Through five games, closer Jeurys Familia has picked up three saves. The right-hander has allowed just two hits in four appearances and has yet to allow an earned run. Familia is joined in the bullpen by relievers AJ Ramos, Jerry Blevins and Robert Gsellman.