Diamondbacks at Mets
The Arizona Diamondbacks had blazed a trail toward a potential postseason berth on the strength of 11-1 stretch before falling short in their last outing. The Diamondbacks aim to regain their footing on Monday when they open a four-game series against reigning National League Cy Young Award recipient Jacob deGrom and the host New York Mets.
Ketel Marte belted a two-run shot in Arizona's 4-3 setback to Cincinnati on Sunday to extend his hitting streak to seven games, during which he is 14-for-29 with four homers, 14 RBIs and seven runs scored. The 25-year-old went deep on two occasions as the Diamondbacks won two of three against the Mets in Phoenix from May 31 to June 2, although he is 0-for-6 in his career versus deGrom. While the Diamondbacks reside 1 1/2 games behind the Cubs in the race for the second wild card, the Mets sit four back of Chicago after falling for the 10th time in 15 contests following Sunday's 10-7 setback against Philadelphia. Robinson Cano went deep on Sunday to improve to 5-for-11 with two homers, four RBIs and three runs scored in four games since returning from a month-long absence with a torn left hamstring.
TV: 7:10 p.m. ET, FS Arizona, SNY (New York)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Diamondbacks RH Merrill Kelly (10-13, 4.69 ERA) vs. Mets RH Jacob deGrom (8-8, 2.76)
Kelly improved to 3-1 in his last five outings on Tuesday after scattering three hits while striking out nine over seven innings in a 2-1 victory against San Diego. The 30-year-old also turned in a sterling performance versus the Mets on June 2, as he fanned a career-high 10 over 7 2/3 frames of one-run ball in a 7-1 romp. Wilson Ramos highlighted his two-hit effort in that contest with a solo homer to account for the lone damage against Kelly, who is 5-8 with a 6.00 ERA on the road this season.
DeGrom's impressive season-long ERA has taken a hit after allowing four runs on back-to-back seven-inning outings, although he walked away with a no-decision at Washington on Tuesday. Those two efforts, however, have "ballooned" the 31-year-old's ERA to 1.91 since All-Star break. DeGrom turned in a strong one-run, five-hit performance over 6 2/3 innings at Arizona on June 1, however, he was left with a no-decision after the Mets' leaky bullpen surrendered four runs in the eighth.
WALK-OFFS
1. New York OF-INF Jeff McNeil has two homers, eight RBIs and five runs scored during his six-game hitting streak.
2. Diamondbacks SS Nick Ahmed went 1-for-12 with three strikeouts in the previous series against the Mets.
3. New York rookie 1B Pete Alonso has three homers and six RBIs during his seven-game hitting streak.