The New York Mets are set to host the Washington Nationals for a three-game series this weekend. The Mets will need to keep their foot on the gas after taking two of three from the Los Angels Dodgers. With the Atlanta Braves just three games back in the National League East, manager Buck Showalter will need to make sure his group stays focused against a team heading towards a long rebuild.

The Washington Nationals are having a disappointing season, which led to the departure of superstar Juan Soto and former All-Star Josh Bell at the trade deadline.  A lack of winning has led to inexperienced players getting an opportunity to play every day, with one of those being 30-year-old rookie Joey Meneses. The first baseman/outfielder is slashing .354/.385/.626 in 25 games with the Nationals major league ball club.

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Friday, September 2, 2022: RHP Josiah Gray (7-8, 4.67 ERA) vs. LHP David Peterson (7-3, 3.21 ERA)

Josiah Gray is having an up and down year in his first full season with the Nationals. The 23-year-old right-hander has performed really well at times, but he has lacked consistency throughout. Gray has some of the most interesting home/road splits among starting pitchers in the National League. The former top prospect in the Dodgers system has really struggled at home, pitching to a 2-7 record with a 6.51 ERA and a 1.53 WHIP in 56 2/3 innings. In comparison, he is 5-1 with a 3.11 ERA and a 1.12 WHIP in 66 2/3 innings on the road.

Gray will be taking the mound on 11 days’ rest, with his last start coming against the San Diego Padres all the way back on August 20. He gave up one run on four hits in five innings in that outing, resulting in a no decision for the Nationals starter. His first start of the season is his only against the Mets in 2022, and that was an outing to forget for the young pitcher. Gray allowed four runs on eight hits in just four innings of work, capped off by a home run from Jeff McNeil.

David Peterson is proving to be one of the unsung heroes of this Mets team. The 26-year-old starter may not have a defined role in the rotation, but he continues to pitch well whenever given the opportunity. Peterson could end up as a left-handed arm in the bullpen come October, but for now, he will look to give the Mets a chance to win in the remainder of his starts. Peterson is coming off a magnificent performance against the Colorado Rockies last Saturday, allowing no runs to score on four hits while striking out seven in six innings of work.

The Mets are now 11-5 in games he has started this season. His only start against the Nationals this year was one of his roughest outings, as he surrendered four runs on six hits in 4 2/3 innings back on May 30. Even with that poor start at the earlier in the year, Peterson is 2-0 with a 2.53 ERA and a 1.07 WHIP in four career starts against the Nationals.

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Saturday, September 3, 2022: LHP Patrick Corbin (5-17, 6.56 ERA) vs. RHP Max Scherzer (9-4, 2.27 ERA)

Patrick Corbin is having another difficult season for the Nationals, as his 17 losses is by far the highest total among pitchers in all of baseball. Reports were saying that the left-handed starter could have been included in a potential deal centered around Juan Soto, but the 33-year-old pitcher ended up staying in D.C. While Corbin is having a rough season as a whole, his numbers in the second half are even more disappointing. He is 1-5 with a 9.00 ERA and a 2.00 WHIP in just 28 inning of work.

Corbin has struggled in his outings against the Mets this season, owning a 0-3 record with a 6.62 ERA and a 2.03 WHIP in 17 2/3 innings. The former Arizona Diamondback earned this victory in his last start, surrendering two runs (one of which was earned) on four hits in six innings against the Cincinnati Reds last Sunday.

Max Scherzer will be facing off against his former team for the third time this season. The veteran right-hander pitched well in each of his first two outings, owning a 2-0 record with a 3.55 ERA in 12 2/3 innings against the Nationals. While he has been great away from home, Scherzer has been nearly untouchable at home in 2022. The 38-year-old is 4-2 with a 1.66 ERA and a 0.88 WHIP in 59 2/3 innings. Scherzer was dominant despite earning the loss in his last start, allowing one run to score on four hits while striking out 11 in seven innings against the Colorado Rockies last Sunday.

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Sunday, September 4, 2022: RHP Erick Fedde (5-9, 5.29 ERA) vs. RHP Carlos Carrasco (13-5, 3.92 ERA)

Erick Fedde has been quite underwhelming after being expected to be near the top of the Nationals rotation this season. The right-hander has stayed healthy (21 starts so far), but his performances have not been up to the level he expected going into 2022. Fedde has been unable to produce quality starts since the beginning of the second half, pitching to a 0-2 record with a 8.03 ERA and a 2.02 WHIP in three outings.

The Nationals starter got hit around in last start against the Oakland Athletics on Tuesday, allowing six runs to score on nine hits in just 2 2/3 innings. His numbers against the Mets in 2022 are far from convincing, as he is 0-1 with a 11.37 ERA and a 2.52 WHIP in 6 1/3 innings.

Carlos Carrasco is set to make his return for the Mets after suffering an oblique strain in his last start against the Atlanta Braves on August 15. The right-hander has been critical to the success of the rotation this year after an injury-riddled 2021 season. Carrasco has pitched 126 1/3 innings and the Mets are 15-8 in games he has started this season.

The 35-year-old is much better at the home versus on the road, pitching to a 8-1 record with a 3.35 ERA in 75 1/3 innings at home. More of his struggles have come away from Citi Field, as Carrasco is 5-4 with a 4.76 ERA in 51 innings on the road this year. The Mets starter has pitched exceptionally well against the Nationals in 2022, owning a 2-0 record with a 1.56 ERA and a 1.03 WHIP in 17 1/3 innings.