Arizona @ New York preview

Last Meeting ( Sep 10, 2019 ) Arizona 2, NY Mets 3

The Arizona Diamondbacks won 11 of 12 contests to jump to the front of the line in a long list of contenders chasing the last wild card in the National League, only to fall short in each of their last three outings. The Diamondbacks aim to stop their skid on Wednesday as they play the third contest of their four-game series against the host New York Mets.

Eduardo Escobar belted a solo shot and drove in two runs in Arizona's 3-2 setback on Tuesday to continue his torrid 12-game stretch, during which he has six homers, a dozen RBIs and as many runs scored. The 30-year-old is 7-for-20 with two homers and five RBIs in the season series against New York and 2-for-3 with a homer in a small sample size versus Wednesday starter Steven Matz. While the Diamondbacks have hit a speed bump thus far in Queens, the Mets have answered a dismal 5-10 stretch by winning consecutive contests to tread water among the four teams chasing the Chicago Cubs for the final wild-card slot. Todd Frazier recorded his first RBIs of September after ripping a pair of doubles to drive in all three runs on Tuesday and increase his batting average to .317 with runners in scoring position.

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

PITCHING MATCHUP: Diamondbacks LH Robbie Ray (12-7, 4.03 ERA) vs. Mets LH Steven Matz (9-8, 4.00)

Ray is expected to be no worse for wear on Wednesday after exiting his last start with a blister on his left middle finger. The 27-year-old owns a 3-0 mark in his last six starts, keeping the ball in the park in five of those, although his pitch counts have elevated by issuing at least three walks in four of his last five trips to the mound. Robinson Cano (5-for-9, homer) and Joe Panik (8-for-24) have fared well versus Ray, who sports a 2-0 record with an 0.82 ERA and 1.09 WHIP in four career starts against the Mets.

Matz aims for a better performance against Arizona after getting blitzed for five runs on eight hits -- including two first-inning homers -- in a 7-1 setback on June 2. The 28-year-old New York native will look to avenge that porous outing in Phoenix when he returns home, where he sports a 6-1 mark with a 2.11 ERA as opposed to 3-7 and 6.08 on the road. Matz has yielded two earned runs or fewer in each of his last six trips to the mound, although he settled for a no-decision against Philadelphia in his last start.

WALK-OFFS

1. Cano is 8-for-18 with two homers, four RBIs and five runs scored in six games since returning from a month-long absence with a torn left hamstring.

2. Arizona CF Ketel Marte has collected at least one hit and one run scored in eight of his last nine contests.

3. Diamondbacks C Alex Avila is 1-for-11 with seven strikeouts in their season series against the Mets.

PREDICTION: Mets 4, Diamondbacks 2