Nationals at Mets Preview

NEW YORK (Interstat) — The Washington Nationals visit the New York Mets on Tuesday at 7:10 p.m. at Citi Field in a matchup of last-place teams trying to climb out of early-season holes.

Washington (13-16) is expected to start right-hander Clay Holmes (2-2, 3.86 ERA) against a Mets lineup that has struggled to score runs. Holmes has been steady if unspectacular, while the club also listed Zack Littell (0-3) as a probable pitcher, though he is not expected to start.

New York (9-19) will counter with right-hander Nolan McLean, who has been one of the few bright spots in a dismal rotation. McLean is 0-4 with a 2.25 ERA despite allowing one earned run or fewer in four of his five starts. His most recent outing Sunday against Colorado was a hard-luck loss: 5 innings, 5 hits, 1 run, 7 strikeouts.

The Mets have lost six of their past seven games and have scored three runs or fewer in eight of their last nine. Their only win in that span came Thursday, a 10-8 slugfest against Minnesota.

Washington enters on a high note after Sunday’s 2-1, 10-inning win at Chicago. Left-hander Foster Griffin was the difference, throwing 7 innings of 2-hit, scoreless ball with 8 strikeouts. Griffin, who has won his last four decisions, is scheduled to start later in the series but will not pitch Tuesday.

The Nationals have been inconsistent, going 5-5 in their last 10. They dropped three of four at home to Atlanta before taking two of three from the White Sox.

McLean will look for his first win since April 3 at San Francisco, when he allowed 1 run over 5 1/3 innings. He has lost four consecutive decisions despite a 1.99 ERA over that span.

Weather forecast calls for 55 degrees and cloudy skies. The over/under is 8 runs.

New York is a -1.5 favorite on the run line, according to Interstat projections.

Next up: The teams play again Wednesday and Thursday at Citi Field before the Mets head to Los Angeles for a weekend series against the Angels, and the Nationals return home to host Milwaukee.