Colorado @ New York preview

Last Meeting ( Jun 27, 2013 ) NY Mets 3, Colorado 2

The New York Mets and Colorado Rockies are out of playoff contention, which allows young players such as the Mets' Jenrry Mejia an opportunity to audition on the big stage. The oft-injured Mejia will make his third appearance of the season when the teams begin a three-game series in New York on Tuesday. Mejia performed well in his first two starts of 2013 while pitching with bone spurs in his elbow - a situation which will require off-season surgery - but should get a shot at making next season's rotation.

Tyler Chatwood, who will oppose Mejia, has been the Rockies' most consistent pitcher since being recalled from Triple-A Colorado Springs in late April. Colorado fell to 1-6 on its 10-game road trip with a 5-1 loss to the Pittsburgh Pirates on Sunday, while New York suffered a 6-2 setback to the red-hot Kansas City Royals at home. The Rockies, who have not lost a season series to the Mets since 2009, won three of the first four meetings in 2013.

TV: 7:10 p.m. ET, ROOT (Colorado), SNY (New York)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Rockies RH Tyler Chatwood (7-4, 3.15 ERA) vs. Mets RH Jenrry Mejia (1-1, 2.08)

Chatwood yielded a career-high eight runs and 10 hits in 2 1/3 innings - his shortest outing of the season - in Colorado's 9-0 loss at Atlanta on Wednesday. The 23-year-old was 3-1 with a 1.95 ERA in his previous four turns, with the only setback a 1-0 decision against the red-hot Dodgers in Los Angeles on July 13. Chatwood allowed one run in six frames in the Rockies' 3-2 loss to the Mets on June 27 - the only run he has allowed against them in three starts covering 16 innings.

Mejia yielded three runs and six hits in six innings of a 3-2 loss at Miami on Wednesday after allowing seven hits over seven frames in an 11-0 win at Washington on July 26 in his season debut. The 23-year-old made 33 appearances (three starts) with the Mets in 2010, going 0-4 with a 4.69 ERA before his 2011 season was cut short by Tommy John surgery. Mejia made only six minor-league appearances this season because of elbow tendinitis.

WALK-OFFS

1. Rockies All-Star LF Carlos Gonzalez likely will be placed on the disabled list prior to Tuesday's game because of an injury to the middle finger on his right hand. Gonzalez, who is second in the National League with 26 home runs, originally was hurt on July 7, but the injury has flared up four times since, causing him to miss seven games and parts of three others. "I don't want to go on the DL, but I can't swing. I am just a slap hitter, that's all I can do right now," Gonzalez told reporters on Sunday.

2. Mets CF Eric Young Jr. will play against his former team for the first time. Young, who played his first 313 games over four-plus seasons with Colorado, was designated for assignment by the Rockies on June 12.

3. Mets minor-league OFs Jordany Valdespin and Cesar Puello were among the 13 players suspended by Major League Baseball on Monday for their involvement with the Biogenesis Clinic. Valdespin hit .188 in 66 games (133 at-bats) with New York this season before he was sent down to Triple-A Las Vegas last month.

PREDICTION: Rockies 8, Mets 7