New York @ Los Angeles preview

Last Meeting ( Jul 7, 2011 ) NY Mets 0, LA Dodgers 6

Just when the Dodgers though it couldn’t get any worse, RF Andre Ethier left Wednesday’s game in the first inning with a left oblique strain. It was a fitting end to the Dodgers’ 1-8 road trip, which left them tied with San Francisco for first in the NL West. Los Angeles was shut out for the third straight game by the Giants on Wednesday, and they've lost 10 of their last 13 games. Ethier will have an MRI on Thursday, when he’s expected to join fellow starters Matt Kemp, Mark Ellis and Ted Lilly on the disabled list.

While the Dodgers haven’t scored a run in 30 innings, the Mets exploded for 17 in a rout of the Cubs on Wednesday to snap a four-game losing streak. After a terrible start, 1B Ike Davis has raised his average over .200 for the first time this season after going 18-for-51 (.353) with five home runs and 20 RBI in his last 16 games. Mets 2B Daniel Murphy had two home runs on Wednesday, breaking a homerless streak of 352 at-bats dating back to last season.

TV: 10:10 p.m. ET, SNY (New York), Prime Ticket (Los Angeles)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Mets RH Chris Young (1-1, 3.42 ERA) vs. Dodgers LH Chris Capuano (9-2, 2.60)

Young hasn’t allowed more than three runs in any of his four starts since returning from shoulder surgery, and he pitched a solid six innings against the Yankees in his last outing. He’s 2-5 with a 4.02 ERA in 14 career starts against the Dodgers, including 1-4 with a 5.40 ERA in nine starts at Dodger Stadium.

Capuano has been a pleasant surprise for the Dodgers, recording the most wins and lowest ERA he has ever had through his first 15 games of a major league season. He held the Angels to one run over seven innings in his last start. Capuano has a 6.35 ERA in five career starts against the Mets.

WALK-OFFS

1. Ellis is expected to begin a rehab assignment Saturday in Class-A Rancho Cucamonga.

2. Four players – Davis, Murphy, David Wright and Scott Hairston -- drove in all 17 Mets runs Wednesday.

3. The Dodgers are nine games into a stretch of 20 games in 20 days leading up to the All-Star break.