New York @ San Diego preview

Last Meeting ( Aug 16, 2013 ) NY Mets 5, San Diego 2

The New York Mets are having little trouble shutting down the San Diego Padres. The Mets attempt to clinch the four-game series and continue their dominance over the Padres when they visit again Saturday. New York pitchers are aiming for a third straight game allowing two or fewer runs and are throwing two more power arms at San Diego in the final two games of the series with Jenrry Mejia and Matt Harvey.

The Mets got off to a rough start on their road trip with three straight losses to the Los Angeles Dodgers but are finding the Padres a friendlier opponent with two straight wins. New York has won eight of its last 11 games against San Diego and got three home runs in Friday’s 5-2 triumph. The Padres are trying to avoid a ninth loss in 11 games.

TV: 8:40 p.m. ET, WPIX (New York), FSN San Diego

PITCHING MATCHUP: Mets RH Jenrry Mejia (1-2, 2.22 ERA) vs. Padres RH Edinson Volquez (8-10, 5.80)

Mejia is getting his first extended look as a starter at the major-league level and is aiming for a fifth consecutive turn allowing three earned runs or fewer. The 23-year-old surrendered three runs (two earned) in six innings at Los Angeles on Monday but suffered the loss in a 4-2 final. Mejia’s success is partly due to improved command that has allowed him to rack up 22 strikeouts and just three walks in 24 1/3 innings.

Volquez looked like he had found a groove with four straight starts yielding three or fewer earned runs but fell off the pace Monday. The Dominican Republic native was lit up for eight runs on nine hits in 4 1/3 innings at Colorado. Volquez was knocked around for six runs in three innings at New York on April 1 and is 0-5 with a 7.76 ERA in six career starts against the Mets.

WALK-OFFS

1. Mets C Travis d’Arnaud is scheduled to make his debut Saturday. D’Arnaud was one of the main pieces coming back in the R.A. Dickey trade last off-season.

2. San Diego RF Will Venable has hit safely in 13 straight games.

3. New York 3B Wilmer Flores (right ankle) ran Friday and could return to the lineup this weekend.

PREDICTION: Mets 7, Padres 4