San Diego @ New York preview

Last Meeting ( Apr 29, 2018 ) NY Mets 14, San Diego 2

Two last-place teams square off when the New York Mets host the San Diego Padres on Monday for the opener of their three-game series. New York is looking to escape the basement in the National League East as it trails Miami by one-half game after having the finale of its Subway Series against the crosstown Yankees rained out on Sunday.

Michael Conforto has gone 3-for-7 with a home run and four RBIs in his last two games for the Mets, who have allowed at least five runs in each of their last three contests. San Diego halted its six-game losing streak with a 10-2 victory in the opener of Sunday's doubleheader at Philadelphia but was blanked 5-0 in the nightcap to fall 20 games under .500. The Padres, who firmly are entrenched in last place in the NL West, registered 15 hits and a trio of three-run innings in the win over the Phillies but were held to a pair of singles in the shutout loss. San Diego's Freddy Galvis was hitless in two at-bats in Sunday's second game after going 6-for-9 with four RBIs over the first two contests of the three-game series.

TV: 7:10 p.m. ET, FS San Diego, SNY (New York)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Padres LH Eric Lauer (5-6, 4.87 ERA) vs. Mets RH Jacob deGrom (5-4, 1.68)

After coming within one out of his first complete game, Lauer lasted only two innings in a loss to the Chicago Cubs on July 15 as he was tagged for five runs and five hits. The 23-year-old rookie from Ohio had been pitching well overall of late, allowing one run in four of his previous five turns, but has been hit hard in two of his last three at home. Lauer will be facing New York for the first time as he makes his 17th major-league start.

DeGrom, who leads the major leagues in ERA, could be even more difficult to face as he has received an extra day of rest after his scheduled start on Sunday was washed away. The 30-year-old Floridian is winless in his last four turns as he enters Monday on the heels of back-to-back no-decisions in which he allowed a total of one run over 16 innings. DeGrom improved to 3-1 with a 1.53 ERA in five career starts against the Padres when he scattered five hits over 7 1/3 scoreless frames at San Diego on April 27.

WALK-OFFS

1. Mets RHP Noah Syndergaard, who returned from a finger injury on July 13, is headed back to the disabled list with hand, foot and mouth disease while RHP Corey Oswalt is expected to be recalled from Triple-A Las Vegas to start on Wednesday.

2. San Diego recalled INF Cory Spangenberg from Triple-A El Paso prior to Sunday's twinbill and optioned C Raffy Lopez to the Chihuahuas.

3. New York recalled Paul Sewald from Las Vegas on Sunday to replace fellow RHP Jeurys Familia, who was traded to Oakland a day earlier.

PREDICTION: Mets 5, Padres 1