Mets @ Nationals

Who will WIN this matchup?

New York Mets (1-0)

@ Washington Nationals (0-1)

Starting Pitchers:

Syndergaard (NYM): 0-0; 0.00 ERA

Strasburg (WAS) 0-0; 0.00 ERA

Last 10 Games Played:

New York Mets: 1-0

Washington Nationals: 0-1

Current odds:

New York Mets: (+108)

Washington Nationals: (-118)

• Robinson Cano’s return to a starring role in the New York sports landscape was a productive one in the season opener, as the eight-time All-Star homered, drove in two runs and prevented one from being scored following an alert play at second base. Cano will look to provide an encore on Saturday afternoon when the New York Mets vie for a series victory over the host Washington Nationals. “(Cano) is all about winning, he is about leadership and he’s going to help us win,” Mets manager Mickey Callaway told the New York Post following Thursday afternoon’s 2-0 victory at Nationals Park. Standout closer Edwin Diaz, who was acquired from Seattle along with Cano in a blockbuster seven-player offseason trade, struck out a batter en route to retiring the side in order in the ninth inning to record the save.

• Washington mustered just five hits in the first game of the post-Bryce Harper Era, with Victor Robles ripping a double in the third inning and advancing to third before Cano made the rookie pay for his hesitation on what ultimately became an inning-ending double play. “To be honest, I got a little confused,” the 21-year-old Robles said through a translator. “In the middle of the moment, I realized I had made the mistake, so I tried to kind of make up for it.”

• Syndergaard overcame an injury-plagued season to finish September with a flourish, scattering eight hits and striking out 11 over 15 scoreless innings to cap a 4-1 month in which he posted a 1.73 ERA. The 26-year-old is 3-5 with a 3.43 ERA in 12 career appearances versus Washington after splitting a pair of starts last season, although the Nationals were quick to exploit his troubles with holding runners on base. Trea Turner, who had two hits and stole three bases in the season opener, is just 2-for-12 in his career versus Syndergaard while Ryan Zimmerman is 3-for-13 with five strikeouts.

• Like Syndergaard, Strasburg had a strong finishing kick to the 2018 season by posting a 4-0 mark in his last eight decisions after returning from a one-month absence due to cervical nerve impingement. The 30-year-old fell to 8-5 in his career with a 2.83 ERA in 17 starts against New York after surrendering a pair of homers and four runs total over six innings in an 8-2 setback on April 5. Michael Conforto belted a two-run shot in that contest for his second homer off Strasburg, although he is just 3-for-18 with eight strikeouts against the hurler.

• Washington RF Adam Eaton, who had a single in the opener, batted .371 against New York last season.

• Mets OF Brandon Nimmo struck out three times on Thursday after fanning 15 times in 45 at-bats against the Nationals in 2018.

• Washington OF Juan Soto, who was the 2018 NL Rookie of the Year runner-up, went 0-for-3 on Thursday in his first game since Harper signed with Philadelphia.