Game 32: Nats at Mets

The Nationals look to win another road series, hoping Miles Mikolas can give them a chance as this afternoon's starter

NEW YORK – We’ve reached the finale of this road trip, and at worst the Nationals will head home having gone 3-3 against the White Sox and Mets. But they have a chance, with a win today, to go 4-2 instead and have some positive momentum heading into a homestand against the Brewers and Twins.

It’s going to be Miles Mikolas making the start for the Nats. And yes, that’s the start. Blake Butera will not be using an opener this afternoon, a move he telegraphed when he used PJ Poulin in the ninth inning of a 14-2 blowout win Wednesday night. He also suggested the other day, when asked if he considered using an opener for Zack Littell, that the top of the Mets lineup was more balanced than others, diminishing the value in having a left-hander like Poulin pitch the first inning.

So it’s up to Mikolas to continue his positive upward trend from recent bulk outings and keep the Nationals in the game until Butera decides to turn to someone else. And it’s up to the lineup that produced those 14 runs Wednesday night to keep it going today, albeit against a tougher opposing starter for New York. Freddy Peralta was a Cy Young Award finalist last year with the Brewers and has been solid through his first six starts of the season.

WASHINGTON NATIONALS at NEW YORK METS
Where: Citi Field
Gametime: 1:10 p.m. EDT
TV: Nationals TV (channel listings)
Radio: 106.7 FM
Weather: Cloudy, 56 degrees, wind 6 mph out to right

NATIONALS
RF James Wood
1B Luis García Jr.
LF Daylen Lile
SS CJ Abrams
DH José Tena
3B Jorbit Vivas
2B Nasim Nuñez
C Drew Millas
CF Jacob Young

RHP Miles Mikolas

METS
3B Bo Bichette
DH Juan Soto
LF MJ Melendez
1B Mark Vientos
RF Brett Baty
2B Marcus Semien
CF Carson Benge
C Luis Torrens
SS Ronny Mauricio

RHP Freddy Peralta