New York @ Los Angeles preview

Last Meeting ( Apr 25, 2013 ) LA Dodgers 3, NY Mets 2

The Los Angeles Dodgers are turning the National League West into a runaway and they got a little help from their next opponent in expanding their lead. The surging Dodgers will carry a five-game winning streak into the opener of a three-game series against the visiting New York Mets on Monday night. Los Angeles improved to 20-3 since the All-Star break with a three-game sweep of the Tampa Bay Rays to open a season-high 7 1/2-game edge over the Arizona Diamondbacks in the division.

The Mets face the daunting task of cooling off a Dodgers squad that was 12 games under .500 before reeling off 37 wins in its last 45 games. New York opened its season-high 11-game road trip by taking two of three at Arizona, capped by a 9-5 win in the series finale. Rookie third baseman Wilmer Flores has provided an offensive spark by driving in nine runs during a five-game RBI streak, including his first career homer Sunday in his sixth major-league game.

TV: 10:10 p.m. ET, SNY (New York), Prime Ticket (Los Angeles)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Mets RH Jenrry Mejia (1-1, 1.96 ERA) vs. Dodgers RH Ricky Nolasco (8-9, 3.65)

Mejia has been solid in his three starts since he was promoted from Double-A Binghamton, yielding four earned runs while striking out 18 and walking only three over 18 1/3 innings. He had his shortest outing in his last turn, giving up a pair of runs (one earned) and striking out seven in 5 1/3 innings. His only appearance against Los Angeles was a scoreless inning in relief in April 2010.

Nolasco is 3-1 in six starts since the Dodgers acquired him from the Miami Marlins. He has kept the team's bullpen busy, failing to get through six innings in five consecutive outings since his seven-inning, one-run debut with the Dodgers. Nolasco has struggled against the Mets throughout his career, logging a 5-8 record and 5.13 ERA in 25 appearances (23 starts), including three runs in 5 1/3 innings on April 6.

WALK-OFFS

1. Dodgers 1B Adrian Gonzalez has plated eight runs during a six-game RBI streak to give him a team-high 74.

2. Mets 1B Ike Davis, who got his batting average above .200 for the first time this season on Saturday, has reached base in 24 of 34 plate appearances this month.

3. Nolasco will be relieved to miss injured Mets captain David Wright, who is batting .409 with six homers and 17 RBIs in 66 at-bats against him.

PREDICTION: Dodgers 4, Mets 3