San Francisco @ New York preview

Last Meeting ( Aug 22, 2018 ) San Francisco 3, NY Mets 5

The finale of a four-game series between the visiting San Francisco Giants and the New York Mets on Thursday afternoon will feature an outstanding matchup on the mound. The Giants will be looking for star left-hander Madison Bumgarner to bounce back from a rare rocky outing while the Mets get behind Cy Young Award candidate Jacob deGrom, who is coming off his third career complete game and leads the majors in ERA (1.71).

New York dropped the series opener Monday but it claimed the next two, including Wednesday's 5-3 triumph behind Todd Frazier. The veteran third baseman homered and ripped an RBI double in four at-bats and six pitchers combined on a six-hitter as the Mets won for the 10th time in 15 games. Frazier has been a catalyst during the surge with 12 RBIs over his last 13 contests. San Francisco catcher Buster Posey, who is expected to undergo season-ending hip surgery soon, returned to the lineup and was 0-for-4 on Wednesday as his team was held under four runs for the seventh time in the last eight games.

TV: 1:10 p.m. ET, MLB Network, NBCS Bay Area (San Francisco), SNY (New York)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Giants LH Madison Bumgarner (4-5, 3.05 ERA) vs. Mets RH Jacob deGrom (8-7, 1.71)

Bumgarner gave up a season-high six runs (five earned) over six innings to suffer the loss at Cincinnati his last time out. He served up two home runs in that outing for the first time in a span of 11 starts. Frazier is 5-for-12 with a home run and a double in his career against the 29-year-old Bumgarner.

DeGrom fought through a rain delay to finish off his complete-game win at Philadelphia on Saturday, striking out nine and allowing just one unearned run. The 30-year-old is 3-4 despite an incredible 1.60 ERA in 13 home starts, during which he has fanned 117 batters in 90 innings while holding opponents to a .191 average. Hunter Pence (6-for-17, one home run) has had some success against deGrom, who is 4-1 with a 3.12 ERA in six career starts against the Giants.

WALK-OFFS

1. Mets 2B Jeff McNeil was 2-for-4 on Wednesday and is 14-for-27 during a seven-game hitting streak.

2. Giants OF Austin Slater slugged his first home run in 45 games this season in the 5-3 loss Wednesday.

3. New York OF-3B Jose Bautista hit his 342nd career homer Wednesday to tie Hall of Famer Ron Santo for 97th on the all-time list.

PREDICTION: Mets 5, Giants 1