New York @ Colorado preview

Last Meeting ( Sep 17, 2019 ) NY Mets 6, Colorado 1

After much debate in the clubhouse, Noah Syndergaard will pitch to his preferred catcher on Wednesday afternoon in the rubber match of the New York Mets' three-game series against the host Colorado Rockies. Syndergaard has expressed frustration with starting backstop Wilson Ramos' defense and instead will throw to Rene Rivera, who shares the backup duties with Tomas Nido.

Amed Rosario, Brandon Nimmo and Pete Alonso homered in Tuesday’s 6-1 victory as the Mets won for the second time in five contests and pulled within four games of the Chicago Cubs and Milwaukee for the second National League wild-card spot with 11 to play. Rosario has hit safely in 17 of his last 21 road contests, batting .411 over that span. Colorado had its four-game winning streak come to an end on Tuesday as it was held scoreless until Charlie Blackmon’s solo homer in the ninth inning. Nolan Arenado had his 20-game on-base streak snapped, but rookie Sam Hilliard broke out of a 1-for-25 slump with a pair of singles.

TV: 3:10 p.m. ET, SNY (New York), AT&T SportsNet-Rocky Mountain (Colorado)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Mets RH Noah Syndergaard (10-8, 4.15 ERA) vs. Rockies RH Jeff Hoffman (2-6, 7.03)

Syndergaard struggled for the third time in his last four outings on Friday, allowing four runs over five innings in a loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers. The 27-year-old posted a 2.70 ERA in five starts in July but has registered a 4.30 mark over his last eight outings. Blackmon has recorded two hits in 11 career at-bats against Syndergaard, who is making his first start at Coors Field after going 2-0 with a 2.42 ERA in four previous starts versus Colorado.

Hoffman snapped his five-game losing streak on Friday despite giving up four runs and issuing a career-high six walks over 5 1/3 innings in a win over San Diego. The 26-year-old New Yorker was hoping to build a case for next season’s starting rotation, but he’s completed six frames just once in his last 10 starts. Hoffman is 1-1 with an 8.66 ERA in five career games (three starts) versus the Mets.

WALK-OFFS

1. Alonso leads the major leagues with 48 homers and is four away from tying the rookie record set in 2017 by Aarron Judge of the New York Yankees.

2. Colorado INF Garrett Hampson has gone 14-for-34 over his last 12 games.

3. The Mets are 18-11 on the road in the second half.

PREDICTION: Mets 9, Rockies 4