New York @ Toronto preview

Last Meeting ( May 16, 2018 ) Toronto 12, NY Mets 1

The New York Mets are gearing up for the trade deadline and trying to stay out of the basement in the National League East, but that doesn't mean the players on the field have stopped trying. The Mets will try to post back-to-back wins for the first time in two weeks when they visit the Toronto Blue Jays in the opener of a two-game interleague series on Tuesday.

New York dropped 10 of its last 12 games to fall 15 below .500 but is coming off a win after avoiding a sweep at Miami with a 5-2 victory on Sunday. "I think we're all disappointed where we're at right now. We all had higher expectations for ourselves," Mets left-hander Steven Matz, who earned the win on Sunday, told reporters. "But we have a second half here. We got a win today. We're just going to keep pushing, keep fighting." The Blue Jays are not happy with their position in the standings at six games under .500 and are coming off a disappointing series split after taking two from the lowly Detroit Tigers but dropping the last two while totaling three runs. Toronto will try to get the upper hand in the short series with veteran right-hander Marco Estrada on the mound Tuesday while New York counters with righty Zack Wheeler.

TV: 7:07 p.m. ET, SNY (New York), Sportsnet (Toronto)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Mets RH Zack Wheeler (2-6, 4.47 ERA) vs. Blue Jays RH Marco Estrada (4-7, 4.53)

Wheeler is winless in his last 11 starts but dominated the Pittsburgh Pirates on Wednesday while scattering five hits over seven scoreless innings. The 28-year-old surrendered two or fewer earned runs in four of his last six outings but is frequently the victim of poor run support. Wheeler was not at his best at home against Toronto on May 16, when he was ripped for six runs on seven hits and three walks in four innings to suffer the loss.

Estrada should be sad to see June go after posting a 2-1 record with a 2.35 ERA and a .207 batting averaging against in the month. The Long Beach State product logged four straight quality starts to begin the month before lasting just five innings and surrendering three earned runs at Houston on Wednesday. Estrada is 6-7 with a 3.98 ERA in 27 career interleague games - 20 starts.

WALK-OFFS

1. Mets 1B Dominic Smith (wrist) was held out of the starting lineup in each of the last four games and is day-to-day.

2. Toronto recalled INF Lourdes Gurriel Jr. from Triple-A Buffalo on Monday.

3. New York RF Jose Bautista, who spent the previous 10 seasons in Toronto, went 0-for-5 with three strikeouts on Sunday to snap a four-game hitting streak.

PREDICTION: Blue Jays 4, Mets 2