New York @ Chicago preview

Last Meeting ( May 18, 2013 ) NY Mets 2, Chi. Cubs 8

The Chicago Cubs have won five of their last seven contests and have a chance to take their third straight series when they host the New York Mets in the rubber game on Sunday. The Cubs have received extra-base hits in three straight contests from Anthony Rizzo to spark the offense and have enjoyed solid starting pitching in each of the first two games of the series. Travis Wood will attempt to continue that trend on Sunday.

The Mets are getting production from David Wright and Daniel Murphy but have received little from the rest of the lineup. Murphy had a pair of hits on Saturday and Rick Ankiel provided the only runs with a home run in the ninth inning in an 8-2 setback. Ankiel, who was picked up after being designated for assignment by the Houston Astros, has continued his feast or famine routine with two home runs and six strikeouts in six games since joining New York. Ankiel could get his first day off on Sunday with the left-handed Wood on the mound.

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

PITCHING MATCHUP: Mets RH Dillon Gee (2-5, 6.13 ERA) vs. Cubs LH Travis Wood (4-2, 2.03)

Gee has been impressively inconsistent in the early going, with three starts in which he has allowed one or no runs and five in which he has surrendered at least four. One of the bad ones came last time out, when the 27-year-old was reached for six runs (five earned) and nine hits in four innings to suffer a loss at St. Louis. Gee has made three career starts against Chicago and owns a 2-1 record with a 4.26 ERA. Rizzo is 3-for-6 against Gee.

Wood has yet to allow more than three runs in a start and is coming off a win over Colorado in which he yielded two hits in seven scoreless innings. He beat St. Louis with one run in 6 2/3 frames in his previous turn and is 2-0 with a 2.55 ERA in three career starts against the Mets. Wright is 3-for-9 with a triple off Wood, who has never faced Murphy or Ankiel.

WALK-OFFS

1. Mets 1B Ike Davis is batting .120 as the cleanup hitter this season.

2. Chicago has not won three consecutive series since last July.

3. New York LHP Robert Carson has yielded seven home runs in 11 total innings.

PREDICTION: Cubs 8, Mets 4