Game 146 lineups: Mets at Nats

Following an emotional extra-inning comeback that fell just short in a 4-3 loss to division rivals, today's getaway couldn't be in better hands from a Nationals perspective than right-hander Tanner Roark.

In his last matchup September 9 against the Phillies, Roark racked up six innings, scattering six hits and allowing one run, with two walks, one hit by pitch and eight strikeouts. He tossed 107 pitches, 71 for strikes. He is 14-8 with a 2.85 ERA. Ironically, the 2.85 ERA was the same mark he held after going 15-10 in his breakout 2014 season.

He already has a career-high 150 strikeouts in 29 starts (30 games). The Nats need him to prep for a possible postseason run with a stopper like series win in today's late afternoon tilt.

But the game will have a little bit of a different look without manager Dusty Baker, who has left the team because of a death in the family. He will rejoin the club in Atlanta on Friday. Chris Speier will manage today's series finale.

The Mets counter with right-hander Robert Gsellman. The 23-year-old is 2-1 with a 3.92 ERA in four games (three starts) this season. On September 3 at Citi Field, he beat the Nationals 3-1 by allowing only a first-inning run on an Anthony Rendon sacrifice fly. Gsellman finished six innings, allowing one run on six hits with three walks and four strikeouts.

Manager Dusty Baker would normally give a veteran or two the day off on getaway day leading into an off day, but this isn't an ordinary matchup. The Nationals would like to to take it to the Mets in their final regular season matchup and will likely have all hands on deck for the opportunity to push the magic number to seven with a victory today.

NEW YORK METS at WASHINGTON NATIONALS

Where: Nationals Park
Gametime: 4:05 p.m. EDT
TV: MASN, MLB.tv
Radio: 106.7 FM, XM 183 (Internet 869), MLB.com
Weather: Sunny, 91 degrees, wind 8 mph to right field from first base

NATIONALS (86-59)

CF Trea Turner
LF Jayson Werth
2B Daniel Murphy
RF Bryce Harper
3B Anthony Rendon
C Wilson Ramos
1B Ryan Zimmerman
SS Danny Espinosa
RHP Tanner Roark

METS (77-68)

3B Jose Reyes
SS Asdrubal Cabrera
LF Yoenis Cespedes
CF Curtis Granderson
RF Jay Bruce
2B T.J. Rivera
1B James Loney
C Rene Rivera
RHP Robert Gsellman