The surging New York Mets have won seven of their past eight to climb just three games back of the Washington Nationals who currently sit top of the NL East. The Mets won the opener of a four-game series against their division rival 9-7 on Thursday, and I think they can record an upset Friday night.

Here are my keys to the game:

1. Pitching - The Mets hand the ball to Noah Syndergaard (9-3, 2.41) who held the Cubs to one run in seven innings of a 14-3 win his last start. Syndergaard is 5-1 with a 2.02 ERA in 10 appearances (nine starts) home at Citi Field this season and fanned 10 hitters over seven scoreless innings in a home victory against the Nats on May 17. Washington counter with Stephen Strasburg (11-0, 2.71 ERA) who conceded three runs with a pair of homers in 5 1/3 innings of a 6-3 loss at Cincinnati without factoring in the decision his last start on the road.

2. Home Cookin'/Road Woes - The Mets have won nine of their past 10 in front of the home town crowd and five of Syndergaard's last six home starts. The Nationals are 1-8 in their last nine road games.

3. X-Factor - New York's Yoenis Cespedes was 2-for-3 with a pair of walks last night. He's 4-for-8 in previous meetings with Strasburg.

Selection: This is a play on the New York Mets +1.5 (8*)