The Washington Nationals are losers of four in a row including three straight to the Mets, but they look like a solid favorite here in the finale of this four-game set Thursday afternoon.

Stephen Strasburg (4-3, 3.32 ERA) will toe the rubber for the visitors. He is 8-1 behind a 2.14 ERA in 11 starts at Citi Field and held the White Sox to a pair of runs through eight frames last time out.

The Mets counter with left-hander Steven Matz (3-3, 3.96 ERA) who was tagged with two runs on five hits in 3 2/3 innings of a 2-0 loss at Miami last Saturday. He's fresh off a two week stint on the injured list and Matz is 1-5 with a 3.60 ERA in 11 starts against the Nationals.

Nationals are 16-2 in Strasburg's last 18 starts during game 4 of a series. Mets are 1-6 in Matz's last 7 starts during game 4 of a series.

8* play on Washington Nationals.