Arizona @ New York preview
Citi Field
Last Meeting ( Jul 29, 2012 ) NY Mets 5, Arizona 1
After getting swept by one National League East foe, the Arizona Diamondbacks will try their luck against another on Monday when they open a four-game series against the host New York Mets. Arizona, which was swept by Atlanta in a battle of division leaders, has dropped six of its last seven overall and eight of nine on the road. Clinging to a two-game lead over Colorado in the congested NL West, the Diamondbacks will finish off a 10-game road trip with an extended stay at Citi Field.
New York had been trending in the right direction by winning nine of 14 before getting walloped by Washington on Sunday. John Buck's two-run homer in the ninth inning did little more than put a positive spin on his team's dreadful performance in the 13-2 rout. The Mets, who have a major league-worst 15 wins at home, will follow this series with a nine-game road trip before hitting the All-Star break.
TV: 7:10 p.m. ET, FSAZ (Arizona), SNY (New York)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Diamondbacks LH Wade Miley (4-7, 4.55 ERA) vs. Mets RH Shaun Marcum (1-9, 5.08)
Miley fell to 0-2 in his last four starts despite yielding just nine earned runs in that span. The 26-year-old has been victimized by the long ball, surrendering five of the 13 homers he has allowed this season in the last four contests. Miley, who lost his lone career decision to the Mets in 2012, permitted three runs in seven innings in a loss to Washington on Wednesday.
Marcum finally put a positive spin on an otherwise brutal season in his last trip to the mound. The 31-year-old scattered four hits over eight innings in a 3-0 triumph against the Chicago White Sox on Wednesday. Marcum won his lone career decision versus the Diamondbacks despite allowing seven runs in 11 innings during two starts.
WALK-OFFS
1. New York 1B Josh Satin is riding a six-game hitting streak and has reached base safely in 11 consecutive contests.
2. Arizona 3B/OF Martin Prado has hit safely in five straight games, but is just 2-for-9 with a double in his career versus Marcum.
3. New York INF Daniel Murphy has collected eight hits and four runs in his last five contests.
PREDICTION: Diamondbacks 4, Mets 3