(UPDATED) Despite a patchwork lineup due to injury, the Mets have won three of their past four games and can move back into first place in the NL East tonight when Livan Hernandez takes the mound against the Nationals at Citi Field. The journeyman Hernandez has won three of his four decisions as a Met even with a high ERA and is coming off his best outing of the year last week in Los Angeles, where he allowed the Dodgers just one run in seven innings of an eventual 2-1 loss.

Hernandez is 8-5 with a 4.28 ERA in his career against the Nationals, who are also one of the big right-hander’s former teams. That record includes a 2-0 mark versus Washington last season, when he was with the Twins and Rockies.

Hernandez is facing off against rookie right-hander Craig Stammen, who is making just his second major-league start and his first ever on the road. Stammen did not get a decision in his debut and is sporting a 5.68 ERA.

Here is the 24-20 Mets’ order for the 7:10 p.m. game:

Angel Pagan CF

Luis Castillo 2B

David Wright 3B

Gary Sheffield LF

Fernando Tatis 1B

Fernando Martinez RF

Omir Santos C

Ramon Martinez SS

Livan Hernandez RHP (3-1, 4.93)

Hernandez’s numbers against the Nationals

The 13-31 Nationals will counter with:

Cristian Guzman SS

Nick Johnson 1B

Ryan Zimmerman 3B

Adam Dunn RF

Josh Willingham LF

Willie Harris CF

Josh Bard C

Anderson Hernandez 2B

Craig Stammen RHP (0-0, 5.68)