Tampa Bay @ New York preview

Last Meeting ( Jul 6, 2018 ) Tampa Bay 1, NY Mets 5

Tampa Bay Rays left-hander Blake Snell can surpass his win total from his first two major-league seasons combined when he goes for his 12th victory against the host New York Mets on Saturday afternoon. Much has been made of Tampa Bay's success in utilizing relievers to open games, but Snell ranks third in the American League in wins and ERA.

Snell has been remarkably consistent for Tampa Bay, allowing two earned runs or fewer in 15 of his 18 starts and yielding two runs and eight hits during his three-start winning streak. Tampa Bay continues to struggle away from home, dropping to 3-13 on the road since June 1 after Friday's 5-1 setback and scoring more than three runs just twice in that span. Jose Bautista, signed by the Mets in May after he was released by Atlanta, provided some late magic with a two-out grand slam in the bottom of the ninth in the series opener -- the first walk-off blast of his career. Steven Matz will start Saturday for New York, which has won three of four this month following a ghastly June that produced a 5-21 record..

TV: 4:10 p.m. ET, FS Sun (Tampa Bay), SNY (New York)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Rays LH Blake Snell (11-4, 2.24 ERA) vs. Mets LH Steven Matz (4-5, 3.46)

Snell won his third consecutive start by limiting reigning World Series champion Houston to one run and four hits over 7 1/3 innings while striking out 10 for the second straight outing. He has allowed 11 runs while going 7-1 over his last nine starts despite facing six opponents who are at least 20 games above .500 in that span. Snell is 5-3 with a 3.47 ERA in 11 road starts.

Matz, another pitcher who could be changing addresses before the trade deadline, earned the victory at Miami on Sunday by permitting one run (zero earned) and three hits over 5 1/3 innings. It was the seventh time in his last 11 starts that he allowed two earned runs or fewer. Matz is 1-3 with a 4.57 ERA in 11 starts at Citi Field and has yielded 11 homers in 43 1/3 innings.

WALK-OFFS

1. Mets SS Asdrúbal Cabrera is riding four-game hitting and RBI streaks.

2. Rays RHP Chris Archer (abdominal) will come off the disabled list and rejoin the rotation on Monday.

3. Mets RHP Jenrry Mejia, serving a lifetime ban, will be reinstated to resume baseball activities in spring training in 2019.

PREDICTION: Rays 4, Mets 2