New York @ Los Angeles preview

Last Meeting ( Jul 24, 2010 ) NY Mets 2, LA Dodgers 3

Having a healthy and productive Andre Ethier might be the only chance the Los Angeles Dodgers have of contending for the National League West title.

Ethier is expected back in the starting lineup Sunday when the Dodgers and Mets play the finale of a four-game series and the Dodgers really need the All-Star outfielder to regain his early-season form.

Ethier was one of the top players in baseball over the first six weeks of the season. Disaster struck on May 15 when the Dodgers right fielder broke his right pinkie in batting practice and his season began going downhill.

The struggles of the left-handed hitting Ethier have become so pronounced that he was benched against New York Mets on Saturday even though the New York Mets were starting right-hander Mike Pelfrey. Ethier was a late substitution during the 13-inning game and went 0-for-2.

At the time he was injured, Ethier was leading the National League in batting average (.392) and RBIs (38) and tied for the league-lead in homers (11).

The story is a lot different now with just one week left in July.

Ethier enters Sunday’s game in a miserable 1-for-26 slump over the Dodgers’ previous eight games during the team’s post All-Star Game slump. The Dodgers (4-7 since the break) have struggled to score runs and the team’s recent woes can partly be attributed to Ethier’s slumping bat.

Ethier has often appeared out-of-sync at the plate in recent games and he hasn’t been as patient as he was earlier in the season. His confidence has dropped and his frustration level has increased.

Even with the recent slump that has seen his average drop 24 points, Ethier is batting .300 with 16 homers and 57 RBIs.

Mets starter R.A. Dickey will look to keep Ethier’s bat silent when he starts Sunday’s game against Los Angeles.

Dickey has lost four consecutive decisions since his last victory against the Detroit Tigers on June 23. He gave up three runs and seven hits in seven innings while losing to Arizona in his most recent start.

The Mets have scored two runs or less in each of his last three starts. Overall, Dickey is 6-4 with a 2.73 earned-run average.

Dodgers third baseman Casey Blake is glad to see Dickey on the hill. Blake is 5-for-7 against Dickey.

Clayton Kershaw starts for Los Angeles and the left-hander is looking for his first victory since July 8.

Kershaw (9-5, 3.15 ERA) gave up four runs – two earned – and four hits in his last start while taking a no-decision against the San Francisco Giants.

Dodgers first baseman James Loney delivered the game-winning homer in Saturday’s 13-inning affair. The homer was Loney’s seventh of the season.

Loney had gone 2-for-17 over the previous five games before going 2-for-6 on Saturday.

Mets left fielder Jason Bay has played well the last two games after being benched Thursday due to an 0-for-12 series against Arizona.

Bay went 2-for-4 with a three-run double on Friday, and then went 2-for-5 on Saturday.