Los Angeles @ New York preview

Last Meeting ( Jul 22, 2012 ) LA Dodgers 8, NY Mets 3

If the Los Angeles Dodgers ever rebound to live up to preseason expectations, Sunday's win in Baltimore may be looked upon as a catalyst. The Dodgers will try to build off the comeback victory when they open a three-game series at the New York Mets on Tuesday. Los Angeles had lost six in a row and was trailing by three runs midway through its meeting with Baltimore on Sunday before rallying for a crucial 7-4 triumph.

The Mets began a nine-game homestand by taking two of three from Washington over the weekend, capped by a solid effort from starter Dillon Gee and another home run by John Buck in a tidy 2-0 win Sunday. Buck's solo shot in the second was his seventh of the season, a total he did not reach until June 27 of last year. New York has won four of its last five at home, limiting opponents to a total of seven runs in the victories.

TV: 7:10 p.m. ET, KCAL 9 (Los Angeles), SNY (New York)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Dodgers LH Clayton Kershaw (2-2, 1.88 ERA) vs. Mets LH Jonathon Niese (2-1, 3.80)

Following a phenomenal start to the season, Kershaw has shown he is human. He is 0-2 with a 4.26 ERA in his last two starts after tossing 16 scoreless in his first two. If he continues his relative slide against the Mets it would amount to a significant development, as Kershaw has owned New York. In his second career start back in 2008 at Shea Stadium, he gave up four runs in 3 2/3 innings. The 25-year-old has gone 5-0 with a 0.50 ERA in five starts since against the Mets, including two at Citi Field in which he has allowed just one run and struck out 15 in 12 2/3 innings.

Niese will be happy to be home again after posting a pair of ordinary lines in consecutive road starts. He gave up three runs on a season-high nine hits in an 11-3 loss at Colorado on Thursday. The left-hander was 1-0 with a 2.13 ERA in two home starts earlier this season and has often had slightly better results at Citi Field, including seven solid innings against the Dodgers last July. Thursday's loss snapped a string of five straight winning decisions for Niese, who is 1-0 with a 4.12 ERA in three career starts vs. Los Angeles.

WALK-OFFS

1. The Dodgers are hitting .270 with a .741 OPS on the road, compared to .241 and .648 at home.

2. Mets OF Marlon Byrd is 6-for-9 in his career against Kershaw.

3. After opening the season 10-for-55, Los Angeles CF Matt Kemp has gone 6-for-13 in his last three games.

PREDICTION: Dodgers 4, Mets 2