Opposite dugout: Mets challenge Nats with quality young pitching in D.C.

Manager: Terry Collins, fourth year Record: 53-59 Last 10 games: 5-5 Who to watch: 1B Lucas Duda (.261/.358/.508, 22 doubles, 20 HR, 61 RBIs); 2B Daniel Murphy (.296/.341/.429, 31 doubles, 9 HR, 45 RBIs, 65 R); RHP Jacob deGrom (6-5, 2.77 ERA, 1.22 WHIP); LHP Jon Niese (5-7, 3.24 ERA, 1.26 WHIP) Season series vs. Nats: 1-5, 20 runs scored, 35 runs allowed Pitching probables Aug. 5: Zack Wheeler vs. Gio Gonzalez, 7 p.m., MASN2 HD Aug. 6: Jon Niese vs. Doug Fister, 7 p.m., MASN2 HD Aug. 7: Jacob deGrom vs. Jordan Zimmermann, 12:30 p.m., MASN HD Series breakdown The Mets might not be a threat in the National League East for the sixth straight season and stats-wise, they might not stack up as the most fearsome foe. But they sure do have some nice young pitching and it will be on full display over the next three days in Washington. New York's top three starters, all age 27 or younger, will face the Nationals with right-handers Zack Wheeler and Jacob deGrom sandwiched around left-hander Jon Niese in the series. Wheeler, 24, has been exceptional since seeing his ERA rise to 4.45 and his record slip to 3-8 with a June 25 loss to Oakland. Over his last six starts, he's 3-0 with a 1.63 ERA, holding opponents to seven earned runs in 38 2/3 innings. That has brought his season totals to far more respectable levels at 6-8 with a 3.60 ERA. Tonight, he'll face Nats lefty Gio Gonzalez. Niese, 27, is having yet another nice season, but he has been a bit more uneven lately. The left-hander started the year 5-4 with a 2.88 ERA through 16 starts, a stretch that was capped by six straight quality starts. In four outings since, he's 0-3 with a 5.12 ERA. However, Niese did hold the Giants to three earned runs in eight innings his last time out. He'll be opposed by Doug Fister in the middle contest. Then there's the 26-year-old deGrom, perhaps the best story of the Mets' season. deGrom was just named NL Rookie of the Month for July after going 4-1 with a 1.39 ERA and striking out 38 batters in 32 1/3 innings over five starts last month. The right-hander has 11 quality starts in 15 outings this season and has pitched at least seven innings in four of five starts. While those July numbers look great, his stats from his current five-start winning streak are even better - four earned runs in 34 2/3 innings for a 1.04 ERA and a .198 opponents' batting average. deGrom will take on Jordan Zimmermann in perhaps the most anticipated match-up of the series as he faces the Nats for the first time. While those three starters have been impressive, the Mets haven't pitched great overall. They rank eighth in the NL with a 3.53 ERA and seventh with a 3.72 starters' ERA, but are fourth with a 3.15 bullpen ERA. New York has four relievers that have ERAs of 2.29 or better in at least 19 appearances. Right-handed set-up man Jeurys Familia has a 1.96 ERA in 53 appearances. Offensively, the Mets have also scuffled. They're ninth in the NL with 431 runs, 13th with 84 homers and a .670 OPS, and 14th with a .237 average. New York has four solid performers in first baseman Lucas Duda (.866 OPS), second baseman Daniel Murphy (.770 OPS), right fielder Curtis Granderson (.732 OPS) and third baseman David Wright (.719 OPS). But it has little beyond that. Duda and Murphy have stood out with breakout seasons. Duda leads the team with career-highs of 20 homers and 61 RBIs. His bat has awoken since a slow start with a .303 average, 12 doubles, 12 homers and 30 RBIs in his last 43 games, shooting his average from .229 to .261. Murphy has followed up a nice 2013 with an All-Star season this year. He leads the NL with 134 hits, ranks second among NL second basemen in OPS and is fourth in the NL overall with 31 doubles. The Mets have been hotter than not since July 6, going 15-10 in their last 25 games. But since winning eight of nine from July 6-18, they've been playing just under .500 ball at 7-9. The Mets have lost their last two contests and now they face a team that has caused them all kinds of problems over the last two seasons. The Nats have won 10 of their last 11 games against the Mets and will be looking to add to a three-game division lead before facing the second-place Braves over the weekend. So while the Mets might be in fourth and eight games out of first, the Nats will be hoping to continue their dominance against New York with their top challenger looming.