Dodgers at Mets
The Los Angeles Dodgers will attempt to bounce back from their first series loss in over a month when they wrap up a six-game road trip with the first of three against the New York Mets on Friday night. The Dodgers put together an unbeaten streak of nine consecutive series before dropping two of three games at the Chicago Cubs.
The Dodgers were on a 22-7 tear before scoring a combined one run in the last two games against the Cubs, but manager Dave Roberts was not concerned by the offensive swoon despite stranding 31 runners in the series. "The series could have gone either way," Roberts told reporters. "You're not going to win every series, but going into New York, we feel pretty good about ourselves." The same cannot be said for the Mets, who return home off a 3-7 road trip that culminated in three straight losses at Colorado in which they gave up 26 runs. New York's Brandon Nimmo has hit safely in six consecutive games and has knocked in nine runs during a five-game RBI streak.
TV: 7:10 p.m. ET, MLB Network, SportsNet LA (Los Angeles) SNY (New York)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Dodgers LH Alex Wood (2-5, 4.22 ERA) vs. Mets RH Zack Wheeler (2-5, 4.82)
Wood won for the first time in nearly a month last Saturday, limiting arch-rival San Francisco to one run and four hits over 5 2/3 innings. He lasted a combined 12 innings over his previous three starts but managed to escape with a pair of no-decisions despite giving up 15 runs and 20 hits over that span. Wilmer Flores is 4-for-13 with a homer off Wood, who is 0-3 with a 3.94 ERA in eight starts versus the Mets.
Wheeler has been pitching markedly better but has nothing to show for it, extending his winless drought to nine starts after settling for a no-decision with six innings of two-run ball at Arizona last time out. It marked the fourth quality start in the last six outings for Wheeler, who is 0-4 since winning at San Diego on April 29. He was rocked by the Dodgers for seven runs in two innings last year.
WALK-OFFS
1. Los Angeles has won nine straight against New York, which has dropped 10 of its last 11 overall at Citi Field.
2. Mets 2B Asdrubal Cabrera did not play Thursday due to a bruised left elbow but is expected back Friday.
3. Dodgers SS-CF Chris Taylor exited Wednesday's game due to left hamstring tightness and is day-to-day.