New York @ Chicago preview

Last Meeting ( Jul 8, 2012 ) Chi. Cubs 7, NY Mets 0

The New York Mets snapped out of a six-game slide behind the hot bats of David Wright and Daniel Murphy. Those two will attempt to guide the Mets to back-to-back victories when they open a three-game set at the Chicago Cubs on Friday afternoon. Murphy went 10-for-16 in the four-game series against the St. Louis Cardinals and doubled twice as New York finally broke through with a victory on Thursday.

The Cubs have been playing well over the last week and enter the weekend winners of four of their last five games. They have averaged 5.8 runs in the last five contests but could see their offense stalled against Mets ace Matt Harvey. Chicago defeated Washington phenom Stephen Strasburg to kick off its recent surge last week and have been getting strong production out of the leadoff spot from David DeJesus, who is 6-for-12 with five runs scored in the last three games. Starlin Castro has hit safely in six straight for Chicago and has started moving into the leadoff spot against left-handers.

TV: 2:20 p.m. ET, SNY (New York), WGN (Chicago)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Mets RH Matt Harvey (4-0, 1.44 ERA) vs. Cubs RH Edwin Jackson (1-5, 6.02)

Harvey has allowed two or fewer runs in seven of his eight turns but has been held out of the win column in each of his last four starts due to some poor support. The 24-year-old struck out 12 and allowed one hit in nine scoreless frames on May 7, only to have New York suffer a 1-0 loss in 10 innings. He surrendered two runs in seven innings against Pittsburgh on Sunday but was again held out of the decision.

Jackson finally earned his first win with the Cubs on Saturday when he allowed two runs in 5 1/3 innings at Washington. The veteran right-hander signed a four-year deal with Chicago in the offseason but has yielded at least four runs in four of his eight starts. Jackson has made four career starts against the Mets and is 1-1 with a 4.50 ERA. Wright and Murphy are a combined 3-for-19 against Jackson.

WALK-OFFS

1. The Cubs have won back-to-back series for the first time this season.

2. New York 1B Ike Davis is 0-for-22 with 10 strikeouts in the past six games.

3. Chicago RHP Matt Garza (strained left lat) struck out six and allowed two hits without walking a batter in six innings during a rehab start at Triple-A Iowa on Thursday.

PREDICTION: Mets 3, Cubs 1