Los Angeles @ New York preview

Last Meeting ( Sep 14, 2019 ) LA Dodgers 0, NY Mets 3

The New York Mets are fighting to stay in the National League wild card race and are going toe-to-toe with the top team in the NL this weekend. The Mets will try to take the rubber match and get a boost in the standings when they host the Los Angeles Dodgers in the finale of a three-game series on Sunday.

New York dropped the series opener 9-2 on Friday and could not figure out Dodgers lefty Hyun-Jin Ryu through seven innings on Saturday but kept fighting and eventual broke through on Rajai Davis' three-run, pinch-hit double in the eighth and grabbed a 3-0 victory. The win was the fifth in six games for the Mets and kept them three games behind the Chicago Cubs in the race for the second NL wild card. The Dodgers, who managed three hits - all singles - on Saturday - own a three-game lead over the Atlanta Braves for the best record in the NL. Los Angeles will try to provide more support on Sunday for right-hander Walker Buehler while New York goes for a series win behind righty Zack Wheeler.

TV: 7:05 p.m. ET, ESPN

PITCHING MATCHUP: Dodgers RH Walker Buehler (13-3, 3.14 ERA) vs. Mets RH Zack Wheeler (11-7, 4.21)

Buehler bounced back from a rough outing against Colorado on Sep. 2 by dominating at Baltimore on Tuesday, when he scattered four hits over seven scoreless innings and struck out 11. The 25-year-old did not allow a run in four of his last six starts and is up to a career-high 201 strikeouts in 166 1/3 innings. Buehler was not at his best against the Mets on May 29, serving up five runs and seven hits in five innings without factoring in the decision.

Wheeler is expected to be one of the best pitchers available on the free agent market this winter and is improving his stock with a string of strong outings. The 29-year-old allowed one earned run for the third straight start when he dominated the Arizona Diamondbacks over seven innings on Tuesday, scattering seven hits and striking out seven to pick up the win. Wheeler is seeing the Dodgers for the first time this season and is 6-2 with a 4.20 ERA in 13 starts at home.

WALK-OFFS

1. Dodgers 1B Max Muncy is 0-for-7 with three strikeouts in two games since returning from a fractured wrist.

2. Mets 1B Pete Alonso is 0-for-15 over the last five games.

3. New York RHP Seth Lugo struck out the side in a scoreless inning on Saturday to mark his ninth straight scoreless appearance - totaling 14 innings.

PREDICTION: Dodgers 2, Mets 1