NEW YORK (Interstat) — The New York Mets will look to build on a strong series-opening victory and maintain their slim postseason hopes when they host the Washington Nationals in an evening matchup Saturday at Citi Field.

The Mets (79-74) took the first game of the three-game set Friday afternoon in a 1-0 pitchers’ duel. They enter play Saturday 3 1/2 games out of the final National League wild-card spot with nine games remaining. The Nationals (62-91), long eliminated from contention, have lost four straight and eight of their last ten.

New York is coming off a 6-1 win over the San Diego Padres on Thursday. Key contributors in that victory included starter Jonah Tong, who struck out eight over five scoreless innings, and sluggers Brandon Nimmo and Pete Alonso, who each homered.

Washington, conversely, was swept in a four-game series by the Atlanta Braves, including a 9-4 loss Wednesday. Rookie right fielder Dylan Crews had an RBI single in that contest.

The season series between the two NL East rivals has been tightly contested. The Mets hold a 6-5 edge in the 11 games played so far this year, though the Nationals won two of three in their last meeting in Washington in August. The teams have split the six games played at Citi Field.

According to a projection from Interstat, the Mets are favored to win a close game, with a predicted final score of 4-3.

Following Saturday’s game, the series concludes Sunday before the Nationals travel to Atlanta and the Mets begin a crucial road trip to Chicago and Miami.