New York @ Los Angeles preview
Dodger Stadium
Last Meeting ( Aug 12, 2013 ) NY Mets 2, LA Dodgers 4
The piping-hot Los Angeles Dodgers attempt to extend their winning streak to seven games when they host the New York Mets in the middle contest of their three-game series Tuesday. Los Angeles rallied for three runs in the sixth inning on Monday to erase a 2-0 deficit and Nick Punto belted a solo homer in the seventh to seal the win. The Dodgers, who own a 7 1/2-game lead over the Arizona Diamondbacks in the National League West, are 38-8 since June 22 and 21-2 since the All-Star break.
New York had won five of six contests prior to Monday's setback. The Mets' postseason chances are slim at best, as they trail the Cincinnati Reds by 11 games for the second NL wild-card berth. New York is 2-2 on its 11-game road trip, which also sees it visit San Diego for four contests and Minnesota for the makeup of an April 14 postponement.
TV: 10:10 p.m. ET, SNY (New York), KCAL (Los Angeles)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Mets RH Matt Harvey (9-3, 2.09 ERA) vs. Dodgers LH Hyun-Jin Ryu (11-3, 2.99)
Harvey tossed his first career shutout Wednesday, limiting the Colorado Rockies to four hits while striking out six. The 24-year-old All-Star has held the opposition without an earned run in three of his last four starts. Harvey, who is 5-1 on the road this season, settled for a no-decision against the Dodgers on April 24 after allowing three runs and four hits over six innings.
Ryu is unbeaten in his last eight starts, going 5-0 while allowing fewer than three runs six times during that span. The 26-year-old South Korean won his fourth consecutive outing on Thursday, when he yielded an unearned run and five hits over seven innings at St. Louis. Ryu limited the Mets to one run and three hits in seven frames on April 25 in New York but was forced to settle for a no-decision.
WALK-OFFS
1. Los Angeles 1B Adrian Gonzalez extended his RBI streak to seven games. He has driven in nine runs during the tear.
2. Mets 3B Wilmer Flores failed to record an RBI for the first time in six contests on Monday. The 22-year-old is 5-for-16 with a home run, five RBIs and four runs scored over the first four games of New York's road trip.
3. Dodgers RHP Kenley Jansen has retired 32 of the last 33 batters he has faced.
PREDICTION: Mets 3, Dodgers 2