New York @ Boston preview

Last Meeting ( Sep 15, 2018 ) NY Mets 3, Boston 5

The finale of a three-game series between the New York Mets and the host Boston Red Sox on Sunday features a pair of Cy Young Award candidates on the mound, although Jacob deGrom and Chris Sale are working toward very different goals. DeGrom is closing in on the National League ERA crown, a category he leads by a comfortable margin, for a Mets team that's playing out the string.

Sale is the unquestioned ace of Boston's staff but will be on a pitch count as he makes his second start since returning from a shoulder issue, hoping to slowly increase his work load in order to get ready for the playoffs. Both pitchers will be trying to lead their teams to a series win after they split the first two contests, with the American League East-leading Red Sox picking up a 5-3 win in Saturday's affair. Brock Holt's two-run double capped a four-run fifth and proved to be the difference on the scoreboard as Boston picked up win No. 102, third-most in franchise history. The Mets are looking to pick up their fifth straight series win.

TV: 1:05 p.m. ET, SNY (New York), NESN (Boston)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Mets RH Jacob deGrom (8-9, 1.71 ERA) vs. Red Sox LH Chris Sale (12-4, 1.96)

DeGrom suffered another in a string of hard-luck losses after giving up two runs and three hits over seven innings against Miami on Tuesday. He had nine strikeouts in the outing to bump his season total to 239, tied with the career high established last year. The 30-year-old faced the Red Sox just once back in 2015, striking out 10 over six innings of two-run ball.

Sale tossed 26 pitches in one scoreless inning on Tuesday in his first outing in nearly a month, which gave him 29 straight scoreless frames over an injury-marred stretch that began before the All-Star break. He is still in third place in the AL in strikeouts (221) and averages an eye-popping 13.7 per nine innings at home. Todd Frazier has three home runs in 10 career at-bats against Sale, who allowed three runs across eight innings in his one prior start versus the Mets in 2013.

WALK-OFFS

1. Red Sox 1B Steve Pearce is 7-for-15 with five RBIs over his last six games.

2. Mets OF Brandon Nimmo provided all of his team's offense with a three-run homer Saturday and he also boasts 10 walks over his last nine games.

3. Boston is 12-0-3 in its last 15 home series against NL opponents.

PREDICTION: Red Sox 4, Mets 3