New York @ Arizona preview
Chase Field
Last Meeting ( Aug 9, 2013 ) NY Mets 4, Arizona 5
After dropping four of six on a recent road trip, the Arizona Diamondbacks have righted the ship by winning three straight home contests. The Diamondbacks look to ride that momentum on Saturday as they vie for a series victory against the New York Mets. Paul Goldschmidt belted his second career walk-off homer with one out in the ninth inning as Arizona posted a spirited 5-4 triumph on Friday.
The Diamondbacks remained 5 1/2 games behind the first-place Los Angeles Dodgers in the National League West and 4 1/2 in back of Cincinnati for the second wild-card berth. New York saw its three-game winning streak come to an end in the opener of its 11-game, four-city road trip. Saturday rookie starter Zack Wheeler has felt at home on the road this season, posting a 3-0 mark while limiting the opposition to a .196 batting average.
TV: 8:10 p.m. ET, SNY (New York), FSN (Arizona)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Mets RH Zack Wheeler (4-2, 3.73 ERA) vs. Diamondbacks RH Brandon McCarthy (2-5, 4.94)
Wheeler struggled in his last outing, allowing four runs on five hits and as many walks in five innings en route to a 6-2 setback to Kansas City on Sunday. The 23-year-old has struggled with his control, issuing multiple free passes in all nine outings. Wheeler will be facing the Diamondbacks for the first time in his young career.
McCarthy returned from the disabled list to yield two runs on five hits in 4 1/3 innings in a 4-0 loss to Boston on Sunday. The 30-year-old saw his pitch count inflate after issuing three walks. McCarthy, who has yet to face the Mets, has allowed 90 hits in 71 innings this season.
WALK-OFFS
1. Goldschmidt's 27th homer tied him with Pittsburgh's Pedro Alvarez for the National League lead. The blast was his fourth in eight games.
2. New York manager Terry Collins admitted that the possibility exists that 3B David Wright could miss the remainder of the season with a strained right hamstring.
3. Arizona C Miguel Montero began baseball activities on Friday for the first time since being placed on the disabled list with a lower back strain.
PREDICTION: Mets 3, Diamondbacks 2