Dodgers at Mets
With key injuries to the two teams in front of them in the National League wild-card race, the New York Mets may be getting a second chance to make a postseason run following a dreadful stretch that appeared to signal the beginning of the end. The Mets continue their 10-game run against NL West opponentt when they host the opener of a three-game series against the Los Angeles Dodgers on Friday.
New York sat four games behind the Chicago Cubs for the second wild card in the NL on Sunday after losing for the 10th time in 15 road games, but the club quickly regrouped with a strong close to its seven-game homestand, outscoring Arizona 26-4 during a four-game sweep. Thursday's 11-1 victory moved the Mets within two games of the Cubs and Milwaukee - teams significantly weakened by the respective losses of Javier Baez and reigning NL MVP Christian Yelich over the last few days. The Dodgers have no such concerns about qualifying for the playoffs after clinching their seventh straight NL West crown on Tuesday. Los Angeles (95-53), which trails the New York Yankees by two games for the best record in the majors, extended its lead over Atlanta for the best mark in the NL to four games following Thursday's 4-2 win over Baltimore.
TV: 7:10 p.m. ET, SportsNet LA (Los Angeles), SNY (New York)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Dodgers LH Clayton Kershaw (13-5, 3.06 ERA) vs. Mets RH Noah Syndergaard (10-7, 4.06)
After starting the season 13-2 with a 2.71 ERA over his first 22 outings, Kershaw fell to 0-3 with a 6.19 ERA over his last three turns after yielding three runs in a season-low four innings Friday against San Francisco. The three-start losing streak is the three-time Cy Young Award winner's first since June 17-27, 2015, although he has registered 24 strikeouts in 16 frames during the skid. Amed Rosario has doubled twice in four at-bats versus Kershaw, who notched the win against the Mets on May 27 after allowing three runs over six innings.
Syndergaard recently made waves by publicly requesting to pitch to backup catchers Tomas Nido or Rene Rivera instead of Wilson Ramos, although it appears manager Mickey Callaway intends to stick with his starting backstop. The 27-year-old Syndergaard's ERA fell to 5.09 ERA in 15 starts with Ramos following Sunday's loss to Philadelphia in which he gave up four runs over five frames. Corey Seager is 5-for-8 with two doubles and a homer versus Syndergaard, who settled for a no-decision against the Dodgers on May 29 after permitting three runs - including two homers - over six innings.
WALK-OFFS
1. Dodgers LHP Rich Hill, who made his first start on Thursday after spending 12 weeks on the injured list with a strained left forearm, exited after 27 pitches with a left knee issue.
2. Mets OF Juan Lagares finished with two homers and six RBIs on Thursday after entering the contest with three blasts in 238 at-bats on the season and a total of five RBIs since June 16.
3. Los Angeles 3B Justin Turner missed his fourth consecutive game on Thursday, but an MRI revealed only a mild ankle sprain and his status for the weekend is expected to be revisited on Friday.