Opposite dugout: Mets aren't exactly cruising entering critical stretch before break

Manager: Terry Collins (6th season)

Record: 40-34

Last 10 games: 5-5

Who to watch: CF Yoenis Cespedes (.287/.358/.566 with 18 HR, 45 RBIs), 2B Neil Walker (.265 with 14 HR, 30 RBIs), RF Curtis Granderson (13 HR, 21 RBIs), RHP Noah Syndergaard (8-2, 2.08 ERA), RHP Jeurys Familia (2.89 ERA with 26 saves)

Season series vs. Nationals: 3-3

Pitching probables:

June 27: RHP Noah Syndergaard vs. RHP Joe Ross, 7:05 p.m., MASN
June 28: RHP Matt Harvey vs. TBA, 7:05 p.m., MASN
June 29: LHP Steven Matz vs. RHP Max Scherzer, 7:05 p.m., MASN2

Inside the Mets:

Do you hear that? That is the sound of a thousand terrible things Nationals fans are panicking over across the D.C. metropolitan area as the club returns home after finishing 3-7 on a western road trip. The trip was made worse when Stephen Strasburg missed two starts and eventually landed on the disabled list with an upper back strain. What is going to happen to this team as they take on the rival Mets at Nats Park this week?

Well, take a deep breath and exhale, Nats fans, because the Mets aren't exactly coming to our nation's capital as the hottest team in baseball. In fact, they were swept at home by the Braves last weekend and then split a four-game series in Atlanta this past weekend to go 2-5 against the worst team in the National League over the last 10 days. The Mets offense isn't consistent enough to be too intimidating, ranking near the bottom of the league in runs, hits and slash line; although, their 96 home runs are third-best. However, it's no surprise their pitching is their strength, boasting the majors' second-best ERA of 3.20, just ahead of the Nats' 3.38.

Center fielder Yoenis Cespedes leads the Mets lineup in almost every offensive statistic. He is slashing .287/.358/.566 with 18 home runs and 45 RBIs, while also holding onto a starting outfield spot in the upcoming All-Star Game. Second baseman Neil Walker has the next-best batting average of eligible hitters of .265, again showing the inconsistency of the offense. Walker has also added 14 homers and 30 RBIs. Right fielder Curtis Granderson has hit 13 longballs and 21 RBIs to add power to this lineup. And 23-year-old Michael Conforto had hit 10 home runs and 30 RBIs this season, but a .169 May and a .119/.182/.237 line in June prompted manager Terry Collins to demote the outfielder to Triple-A Las Vegas on Saturday.

Right-hander Noah Syndergaard will in fact make his scheduled start against the Nationals tonight after leaving Wednesday's start against the Royals with an elbow injury. There was shown to be no structural damage and Syndergaard was cleared to resume his normal routine, but the Mets are expected to closely monitor and be careful with him tonight. The 23-year-old is 8-2 with a 2.08 ERA, fifth-best in the majors. He pitched seven shutout innings of five-hit ball with 10 strikeouts against the Nats on May 17 in a 2-0 win.

Matt Harvey will start tomorrow night's game against a yet-to-be-announced Nationals call-up starter. The supposed Dark Knight of Gotham has looked more like the sidekick Robin this season, going 4-9 with a 4.76 ERA. The Nats have pummeled Harvey in two starts this season, leaving the righty at 0-2 with a 12.91 ERA. And if Harvey is indeed the Dark Knight, then Daniel Murphy is Bane, already crushing two homers off his former teammate in just four at-bats. But Steven Matz is this year's rookie Mets starter to give the Nats fits. The left-hander takes the mound for Wednesday's finale after pitching eight shutout innings of four-hit ball in a 2-0 victory at Nats Park on May 25.

These two slumping teams are coming into a critical series at the start of a critical stretch before the All-Star break. The Nationals enter this set with a three-game lead over the Mets and also the Marlins in the NL East. Tonight will be the first of seven games between the Nats and Mets over the next two weeks before the break. The Nats face the Reds and Brewers at home in between the Mets series. Meanwhile, the Mets are challenged with the Cubs and aforementioned Marlins before the first half's final four-game set in Queens. So now who's panicking?