Colorado @ New York preview

Last Meeting ( Aug 7, 2013 ) Colorado 0, NY Mets 5

As the New York Mets scuffle toward their fifth straight losing season, players such as Matt Harvey and Wilmer Flores are providing encouragement for the future. The Mets try for a three-game sweep when the host the struggling Colorado Rockies on Thursday afternoon. Harvey pitched a four-hitter to record his first career shutout and complete game while Flores had his first two major-league hits and first three RBIs - on a bases-clearing double in the eighth inning of New York's 5-0 victory Wednesday.

Colorado fell to 1-8 on its 10-game road trip and scored two runs or fewer in six of those contests. To make matters worse, Tyler Chatwood was scratched from his start for the second time in three days after experiencing elbow inflammation during his bullpen session Tuesday and was placed on the 15-day disabled list Wednesday. The Rockies called up Jeff Manship, who arrived in New York at 5 a.m. on Thursday from Triple-A Colorado Springs, to take Chatwood's turn.

TV: 12:10 p.m. ET, SNY (New York)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Rockies RH Jeff Manship (NR) vs. Mets RH Dillon Gee (7-8, 3.97 ERA)

Manship, who was 6-8 with a 4.85 ERA in 24 games (17 starts) with Colorado Springs, pitched 41 games (six starts) with the Minnesota Twins from 2009-12. The 28-year-old last pitched Friday, when he allowed two hits and struck out seven in seven shutout innings. Chatwood, the Rockies' most consistent starter, was set to take his regular turn Tuesday before Weiss decided to give him more time to rest his tender left hamstring.

Gee yielded one run and three hits in seven innings but didn't receive a decision when New York snapped Kansas City's nine-game winning streak with a 4-2 victory on Friday. Gee is 0-1 in three starts since the All-Star break but has pitched seven innings in each outing while compiling a 2.14 ERA. The 27-year-old began to turn around his season when he struck out 12 in a 3-1 victory over the New York Yankees on May 30 after entering the contest 2-6 with a 6.34 ERA.

WALK-OFFS

1. Flores, who was 0-for-4 in his major-league debut while celebrating his 22nd birthday on Tuesday, was called up from Triple-A Las Vegas, where he led the Pacific Coast League with 86 RBIs. He is expected to play third base until David Wright returns from the disabled list.

2. Mets 1B Ike Davis went 1-for-3 with his third double in two games to raise his average to a season-high .196.

3. The Rockies are 2-10 on Thursday.

PREDICTION: Mets 3, Rockies 2