Los Angeles @ New York preview

Last Meeting ( May 12, 2016 ) NY Mets 0, LA Dodgers 5

Youth will be served on Friday as Los Angeles Dodgers left-handed prospect Julio Urias will become the youngest pitcher to start a contest in the majors in 11 years when he faces the host New York Mets in the opener of a three-game series. The 19-year-old Urias, who has drawn early comparisons to fellow Mexican left-hander Fernando Valenzuela, will be making his major-league debut after signing with the organization three years ago.

Urias is riding a 27-inning scoreless streak into Friday's contest, when he will become the first teenager to start in the majors since Seattle ace Felix Hernandez in 2005. Los Angeles has been stingy of late, yielding just eight runs during its four-game winning streak to move into second place in the National League West. The Mets, who split a four-game set in Los Angeles on May 9-12, recently claimed two of three versus Washington and five of six overall to creep up on the Nationals. Veteran David Wright homered for the second straight contest on Wednesday and is riding a five-game hitting streak into the series with the Dodgers, against whom he went 0-for-10 two weeks ago.

TV: 7:10 p.m. ET, MLB Network, Sportsnet Los Angeles, SNY (New York)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Dodgers LH Julio Urias (NR) vs. Mets RH Jacob deGrom (3-1, 3.07)

Urias has handcuffed batters to the tune of striking out 44 in 41 frames en route to posting a 4-1 mark and a 1.10 ERA with Triple-A Oklahoma City. He also did a number on the Mets' Pacific Coast League representative (Las Vegas), limiting the club to three hits in six innings on May 14. Urias is being pushed into action in place of fellow southpaw Alex Wood, who was scratched from Friday's start because of soreness in his triceps.

While there's plenty of fanfare surrounding Urias, a number of questions are circling in regard to the recent pitching of deGrom. The 27-year-old has posted an 0-1 mark with a 4.63 ERA in that stretch to see his season ERA catapult from a rail-thin 1.02 to 3.07, with Saturday's four-run, three-walk stint versus Milwaukee not doing him any favors. The hurler pitched well against Los Angeles on May 10, however, permitting two runs without any free passes in seven innings of a no-decision.

WALK-OFFS

1. New York RH Jeurys Familia has converted a franchise-best 32 consecutive save opportunities.

2. Los Angeles 2B Chase Utley, who is no fan of the Citi Field faithful, has six hits and four runs scored in his last three games.

3. Mets INF Wilmer Flores (hamstring) is expected to return from the disabled list and play in this series, perhaps as early as Friday.

PREDICTION: Mets 2, Dodgers 1