Opposite dugout: Mets picking up pieces with eye toward 2019

Manager: Mickey Callaway (1st season)

Record: 56-71

Last 10 games: 6-4

Who to watch: LF Michael Conforto (18 HR, 51 RBIs), 3B Todd Frazier (14 HR, 46 RBIs), 1B Wilmer Flores (.278/.332/.447 with 47 RBIs), SS Amed Rosario (6 3B, 14 SB), RHP Zack Wheeler (3.63 ERA), RHP Robert Gsellman (7 saves)

Season series vs. Nationals: 6-6

Pitching probables:

Aug. 24: LHP Gio Gonzalez (7-10) vs. LHP Jason Vargas (3-8), 7:10 p.m., MASN2
Aug. 25: RHP Tanner Roark (8-12) vs. RHP Zack Wheeler (8-6), 4:05 p.m., MASN2
Aug. 26: RHP Jefry Rodriguez (1-1) vs. LHP Steven Matz (5-10), 1:10 p.m., MASN2

Inside the Mets:

The Mets welcome the Nationals for this weekend's series at Citi Field having won 10 of their last 16 games. But as they have all season, injuries have again taken a toll. Right-handed setup man Anthony Swarzak is now on the disabled list with shoulder inflammation, and center fielder Brandon Nimmo went down last week with a bruised finger on his glove hand.

First baseman Wilmer Flores has put together a nice run in August, registering nine multi-hit games this month. With Nimmo out of the picture, Amed Rosario constitutes the Mets' only legitimate stolen-base threat. Like Flores, Rosario has gotten hot lately, with five multi-hit games in his last 14. Veteran third baseman Todd Frazier has always hit the Nats pretty well, slashing .282/.357/.473 over 140 plate appearances. Since middle infielder Asdrúbel Cabrera was traded to the Phillies, Michael Conforto is the Mets' home run leader. His three-run shot was the difference in the Mets' 6-3 win over the Giants on Tuesday. Longtime Blue Jays outfielder José Bautista has put in some time at third base for the Mets this season, mostly while Frazier was on the disabled list last month. The 37-year-old Bautista has lately been back at his old post in right field. As he plays out the twilight of his career, Bautista is no longer the feared slugger he once was, but he's still got some pop in the old bat, as the Giants were reminded Wednesday, when he went deep in the fourth inning. Switch-hitting infielder José Reyes, 35, provides the other remaining veteran presence in the Mets clubhouse. Like Bautista's, Reyes' bat is a shadow of its former self, but the Nationals might not remember it that way. Reyes homered twice off Nats pitching Aug. 1.

Veteran lefty Jason Vargas starts tonight's series opener. As his 7.67 ERA would indicate, Vargas has been roughed up more than once this season. However, he's given up just two runs in each of his last two starts, and picked up a win Sunday against the Phillies. Right-hander Zack Wheeler, who tomorrow gets the middle game of this three-game set, figures to be the toughest starter the Mets will throw at the Nats this weekend. In the last three months, Wheeler's gone fewer than five innings only once, and has gone at least seven innings eight times, including three such occasions so far in August. His last go at the Nats came July 14, when he went 7 2/3 innings to get the win. Southpaw Steven Matz starts Sunday's finale. The Nationals pummeled him for seven runs on eight hits in his most recent start against them, chasing Matz before he could record three outs. He fared little better in his next start, going just two innings against the Phillies on Aug. 16, surrendering six runs (four earned) on five hits. He bounced back at home against the Giants on Tuesday, giving up just two runs on two hits while striking out five batters over five innings. He got no decision but kept the Mets in the game, which they ultimately won.

Since the departure of Jeurys Familia, the Mets' closer situation has been in a state of flux. The job initially fell to righty Robert Gsellman (3.62 ERA), but he seems better suited to a setup role. Right-hander Paul Sewald (4.68 ERA) got the save in the Mets' win on Wednesday over the Giants.