WASHINGTON — After dropping four of their first five here and in Pittsburgh this week, the Mets will be trying to salvage an unexpectedly wretched trip today when Livan Hernandez takes on the Nationals. Hernandez has been a surprising constant as the Mets’ fifth starter, winning four of his first five decisions while posting the team’s first complete game since last September. The Mets also have won four of his past five starts.
Hernandez will be facing one of his former teams today after pitching for the Nationals from 2005 to the middle of 2006. He is 9-5 with a 3.99 ERA in his career against Washington, including 1-0 at Nationals Park.
Hernandez will be opposed for the second time in less than a month by rookie right-hander Craig Stammen, whom the Mets pounded by a 6-1 count at Citi Field on May 26. Stammen is winless in his first three major-league starts.
Here is the 29-25 Mets’ order for the 1:35 p.m. game:
Alex Cora 2B
Fernando Martinez LF
Carlos Beltran CF
David Wright 3B
Daniel Murphy 1B
Ryan Church RF
Brian Schneider C
Wilson Valdez SS
Livan Hernandez RHP (4-1, 4.33)
The 15-39 Nationals will counter with:
Cristian Guzman SS
Nick Johnson 1B
Ryan Zimmerman 3B
Adam Dunn LF
Elijah Dukes CF
Austin Kearns RF
Josh Bard C
Anderson Hernandez 2B
Craig Stammen RHP (0-1, 5.71)
