New York @ San Francisco preview

Last Meeting ( Aug 19, 2016 ) NY Mets 1, San Francisco 8

The San Francisco Giants have crept back into first place in the National League West after a brief absence and strive to remain there when they host the New York Mets on Saturday in the third contest of their four-game series. San Francisco fell behind Los Angeles earlier this week but has rebounded with two straight wins over the Mets to move one-half game ahead of the Dodgers.

The Giants entered the series on a four-game losing streak but have exploded for 18 runs and 32 hits in the two victories over New York. Denard Span is 7-for-9 in the series while the Giants have recorded 11 hits with runners in scoring position. New York has lost three straight contests and 16 of its last 23 to fall 5 1/2 games behind St. Louis for the NL's second wild-card. Yoenis Cespedes (quadriceps) and Asdrubal Cabrera (knee) returned from disabled-list stints on Friday and both went 1-for-4.

TV: 4:05 p.m. ET, FS1, SNY (New York), CSN Bay Area (San Francisco)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Mets RH Bartolo Colon (10-7, 3.38 ERA) vs. Giants LH Matt Moore (7-9, 4.14)

Colon lost to Arizona in his last turn as he gave up five runs - two earned - and nine hits in four innings. The outing marked the fifth time in his last eight starts that he worked fewer than six frames. Colon is 2-3 with a 5.05 ERA in six career turns versus San Francisco and has had major problems retiring Hunter Pence (6-for-11, two homers) while shutting down Span (2-for-14) without much issue.

Moore is 0-2 in three starts and has issued 14 walks in 19 innings since being acquired from Tampa Bay. He lost to Pittsburgh in his last outing as he gave up five runs and six hits in six frames. Moore never has faced the Mets but experienced success against Curtis Granderson (0-for-7) and Cabrera (1-for-8) in the American League.

WALK-OFFS

1. Mets 3B Jose Reyes recorded a season-high four hits on Friday and is 11-for-26 during his six-game hitting streak.

2. San Francisco LF Angel Pagan notched two hits on Friday and is batting .352 during his 17-game hitting streak.

3. New York LHP Steven Matz (shoulder) was scratched from Friday's scheduled start, adding to concerns about the 25-year-old - who likely will need to have a bone spur in his elbow removed after the season.

PREDICTION: Mets 4, Giants 3