New York @ Chicago preview

Last Meeting ( May 17, 2013 ) NY Mets 3, Chi. Cubs 2

As long as Matt Harvey is hitting and pitching, the New York Mets look like one of the best teams in the league. They will try to win without their ace on the mound when they visit the Chicago Cubs again on Saturday. Harvey got the win and drove in the go-ahead run in Friday’s 3-2 series-opening triumph. The Cubs are hoping to have some better luck against Jeremy Hefner, who has yet to earn a win this season.

Harvey is not the only good thing going for New York right now, as both David Wright and Daniel Murphy have gotten hot and are carrying an otherwise slumping lineup. Each hit a solo homer in Friday’s opener, and Wright’s three hits marked the only multi-hit effort for the Mets in the win. Chicago is coming off a rare home series win and had taken four of five before running into Harvey. Alfonso Soriano recorded the only RBI for the Cubs on Friday and has driven in at least one in four straight games.

TV: 1:05 p.m. ET, WPIX (New York), Comcast SportsNet Chicago

PITCHING MATCHUP: Mets RH Jeremy Hefner (0-4, 4.61 ERA) vs. Cubs RH Scott Feldman (3-3, 2.53)

Hefner has allowed three or fewer runs in five of his seven starts, but has not gotten much support from the offense. The 27-year-old yielded three runs in six innings at St. Louis on Monday but did not factor in the decision as New York lost 6-3. He has faced the Cubs only once in his career, throwing 1 1/3 perfect innings out of the bullpen at Wrigley Field on June 26, 2012.

Feldman has been dominant over his last four turns, going 3-0 with a 1.57 ERA. The lone no decision in that span came Sunday at Washington, when the right-hander allowed a run and five hits over six innings and the Cubs went on to claim a 2-1 win. Feldman has made one career start against the Mets, during interleague play when he was a member of the Texas Rangers. He yielded seven runs (six earned) and eight hits in five innings to absorb the loss in that one.

WALK-OFFS

1. Cubs RHP Matt Garza (strained lat) is scheduled to throw in the bullpen on Saturday. He went six scoreless innings in a rehab start on Thursday.

2. New York 1B Ike Davis snapped an 0-for-24 slump with a single on Friday.

3. Chicago 1B Anthony Rizzo has gone 35 straight at-bats without striking out.

PREDICTION: Cubs 5, Mets 3