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Trachsel hoping for spot in Mets' playoff rotation

Sep 24, 2006 - 2:43 PM Washington (67-87) at NY Mets (93-61) 1:10 pm EDT

FLUSHING, New York (Ticker) -- Steve Trachsel leads the New York Mets in victories but he still is no lock to be in their playoff rotation.

Trachsel tries to make his claim for a postseason start Sunday when the Mets hook up with the Washington Nationals in the third game of a four-game series.

Despite going 6-2 over his last nine starts, Trachsel (15-7, 4.96 ERA) has worked more than six innings just three times in that stretch. Perhaps his best start in that span came Monday, when he limited Florida to three hits in 6 1/3 innings of a 4-0 triumph.

Trachsel is 10-5 with a 3.35 ERA in 26 career starts against the Nationals franchise. Washington counters with Tony Armas Jr. (8-12, 5.22), who is 0-4 over his last six starts. The righthander yielded three runs in 6 2/3 innings in Monday's 6-1 loss to Atlanta.

Armas is 5-4 with a 3.00 ERA in 12 lifetime outings against the Mets. He allowed just one unearned run and two hits in seven innings of a 3-1 setback vs. New York on August 13.

The Mets had lost three straight games before posting a 12-6 victory over the Nationals on Saturday. Washington has alternated wins and losses in its last six contests.