The Mets meet the home underdog Nationals in the 2nd game of the series. Mets won the first game, and have played well this season. They are top 5 in League batting and pitching, and are a very good road team. Megill starts for NY. At 4-1, with an ERA of 2.43, he has 3 shutout starts, including one against the Nationals. The verdict on the supporting act, the bullpen, is “pretty good”. They have a 3.60 ERA in their last five games.

Th Nationals can hit, but it is their pitching, both starting and relief, that lets them down. Aaron Sanchez (ERA 8.56) will start on Wednesday. It has been a poor season for Sanchez, and he has passed that statistic of ineffectiveness of a run per inning. I don’t expect sudden success from Sanchez or the Phillies bullpen for that matter.

The Nationals have been poor at home, and especially as a home underdog (1-6!). They are just 6-13 vs right handed starters. Look for the offensively effective Mets to run up the score on Sanchez and Washington’s pen. Take the Mets – 1 ½.