Los Angeles @ New York preview

Last Meeting ( May 27, 2016 ) LA Dodgers 5, NY Mets 6

New York Mets right-hander Noah Syndergaard has dominated the opposition with a blistering fastball, but the Los Angeles Dodgers have every right to be wary of his bat as well. After jolting the Dodgers with a pair of homers two weeks ago, Syndergaard looks to keep them on their heels again on Saturday when the clubs play the second contest of their three-game series at Citi Field.

Right-hander Kenta Maeda, who served up both blasts to Syndergaard in the May 11 tilt, will provide the opposition as Los Angeles attempts to rebound from a heartbreaking 6-5 loss in the series opener. Syndergaard's abilities at the plate notwithstanding, Maeda also needs to keep a keen eye on David Wright as the Mets captain has overcome a pronounced slump to homer in three consecutive contests. Curtis Granderson led off the ninth inning for his second career walk-off blast and Juan Lagares also went deep in Friday's triumph for New York, which has 13 homers en route to winning six of its last seven. Chase Utley's bases-clearing double with two outs in the ninth capped a four-RBI performance, but the Mets nemesis is 0-for-7 in his career versus Syndergaard.

TV: 7:15 p.m. ET, MLB Network, FOX, Sportsnet Los Angeles

PITCHING MATCHUP: Dodgers RH Kenta Maeda (3-3, 3.29 ERA) at Mets RH Noah Syndergaard (5-2, 1.94)

Maeda has struggled mightily over the last month, posting an 0-3 mark after allowing four runs in four of his last five starts. The 28-year-old Japanese star carried a no-hitter into the fifth inning of his last outing before coming undone in a no-decision versus San Diego. Maeda also yielded four runs - including a pair of homers - in just five frames of a 4-3 setback to the Mets.

Syndergaard began his three-game winning streak with a dazzling performance versus the Dodgers on May 11, allowing just two runs in a career high-tying eight strong innings of a 4-3 win. The 23-year-old upped the ante in his next two outings, permitting zero earned runs and striking out 21 without issuing a walk in dominating victories over Washington and Milwaukee. Syndergaard etched his name next to elite company following those two outings, joining Nolan Ryan, Jose Fernandez and Clayton Kershaw as the lone pitchers since 1913 to post consecutive double-digit strikeout games without yielding a walk or an earned run.

WALK-OFFS

1. Los Angeles CF Joc Pederson, who went 0-for-4 with three strikeouts on Friday, is 1-for-14 (.071) versus New York this season.

2. Mets 2B Neil Walker is 9-for-23 (.391) during his six-game hitting streak.

3. Members of the 1986 World Series champion Mets team will attend a pregame ceremony prior to Saturday's tilt.

PREDICTION: Mets 3, Dodgers 2