Game 113 lineups: Nats at Mets

For months, the Nationals found themselves chasing the Mets in the National League East, and because they ultimately weren't able to gain enough ground in the division race, their leaders decided it was time to undergo a mass rebuild. Since then, what's happened to the Mets? They've gone in the tank as well, losing nine of 11 and turning a four-game lead in the NL East into a 2 1/2-game deficit that now sees them trailing both the Phillies and Braves.

It's too late for the Nats to take advantage of that, but they can deliver another blow to New York's chances with a strong showing this weekend at Citi Field. They'll get things started tonight with Paolo Espino on the mound.

Espino has been a feel-good story in an otherwise dismal season, but his last start was his worst of 2021. For the first time, he gave up more than three earned runs. In fact, he gave up twice as many, getting tagged by the Phillies for six runs in five innings. We'll see if the right-hander can make amends tonight, getting back to what he does best: keeping the ball down in the zone and inducing weak contact.

Some good news: Juan Soto is back in the lineup tonight after being out all three games in Atlanta over the weekend. The slugger, who has been dealing with a sore right knee, did pinch-hit a couple of times, but has now been cleared to play in full again.

WASHINGTON NATIONALS at NEW YORK METS
Where: Citi Field
Gametime: 7:10 p.m. EDT
TV: MASN, MLB.tv
Radio: 106.7 FM, MLB.com
Weather: Partly cloudy, 80 degrees, wind 12 mph out to left field

NATIONALS
CF Victor Robles
SS Alcides Escobar
RF Juan Soto
1B Josh Bell
LF Yadiel Hernandez
3B Carter Kieboom
2B Luis García
C Riley Adams
RHP Paolo Espino

METS
CF Brandon Nimmo
2B Jeff McNeil
1B Pete Alonso
LF Dominic Smith
RF Michael Conforto
3B J.D. Davis
SS Jonathan Villar
C James McCann
RHP Carlos Carrasco