New York @ Colorado preview

Last Meeting ( Apr 17, 2013 ) NY Mets 0, Colorado 0

The New York Mets have played their last four games in winter-like conditions. So while calling it a road trip from hell might not fit, the Mets are looking forward to returning to the balmy Big Apple. The Mets are set to conclude their abbreviated three-game series against the Colorado Rockies on Thursday, and snow is not in the forecast. The teams, though, should be greeted with partly cloudy skies with a high of 34 degrees and winds out of the north at 17 mph.

Monday and Wednesday's games were postponed because of snow. After eight inches of snow was cleared off the Coors Field playing surface, the Rockies swept Tuesday's doubleheader - 8-4 and 9-8 in 10 innings. The Mets will send Jonathon Niese to the mound. The left-hander has recent experience pitching in cold weather, getting the win in New York's 16-5 victory at Minnesota on Saturday. The Rockies will counter with Jon Garland, Wednesday's scheduled starter.

TV: 3:10 p.m. ET, SNY (New York), ROOT Sports (Colorado)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Mets LH Jonathon Niese (2-0, 3.57 ERA) vs. Rockies RH Jon Garland (1-0, 3.75)

Mets manager Terry Collins decided to keep Niese on his regular rest and skip Jeremy Hefner's start, which was supposed to be Wednesday. Niese allowed five runs (four earned), five hits and four walks in five innings Saturday after holding weak-hitting Miami and San Diego to three earned runs in 12 2/3 innings. Niese is 1-0 in two starts at Coors Field, but has allowed 10 runs and 16 hits in 11 1/3 innings with a WHIP of 1.68 and batting average against of .333.

After signing with Colorado at the beginning of the final week of spring training, Garland has given the Rockies two quality starts. The 33-year-old Valencia, Calif., native, who is 133-119 lifetime, pitched six innings and allowed five hits in each outing - both Colorado victories. Garland did not pitch in 2012 after suffering a shoulder injury midway through 2011. Garland has tamed David Wright (2-for-15, three strikeouts) and John Buck (10-for-42).

WALK-OFFS

1. Colorado CF Dexter Fowler, who has a team-leading six homers, missed both games of Tuesday's doubleheader after fouling a ball off his left foot Sunday. He is considered day-to-day.

2. Rockies SS Troy Tulowitzki did not start the second game of Tuesday's doubleheader after getting hit by a pitch on the elbow in the opener. He struck out as a pinch hitter with the bases loaded and two outs in the seventh inning with Colorado trailing 8-6. Tulowitzki is expected to play Thursday.

3. Colorado 1B Todd Helton, who usually doesn't start against left-handers, is 7-for-16 with a home run and three doubles against Niese while Tulowitzki is 5-for-13 with a homer.

PREDICTION: Rockies 6, Mets 5