New York @ Arizona preview

Last Meeting ( May 6, 2012 ) Arizona 1, NY Mets 3

Frustration is clearly setting in for the Mets, who have lost six straight games and are 1-11 since the All-Star break. Relief pitcher Tim Byrdak and catcher Josh Thole argued in the dugout during Wednesday’s loss to the Nationals, and manager Terry Collins ripped into the team after the game. After completing an 0-6 homestand, the Mets begin an 11-game road trip Thursday in Arizona against the Diamondbacks, who had their five-game winning streak snapped by Colorado on Wednesday.

While the Mets are quickly falling out of playoff contention, the Diamondbacks’ recent surge has them six games behind the Giants in the NL West and 3 1/2 games behind the Dodgers. The Mets took two of three from Arizona in a May series at Citi Field, but they dropped to a season-low four games under .500 with Wednesday’s loss. Arizona has been carried recently by left fielder Jason Kubel, who has homered in seven of his last eight games. Kubel’s 11 home runs in July are tied for the third-most in a single month in franchise history.

TV: 9:40 p.m. ET, SNY (New York), FS Arizona (Arizona)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Mets RH Matt Harvey (NR) vs. Diamondbacks LH Wade Miley (11-5, 3.02)

With both Johan Santana and Dillon Gee on the disabled list, Harvey has been promoted to make his major league debut. The Mets’ first-round pick in 2010, the 23-year-old Harvey is one of the team's top prospects. He has a 3.68 ERA and 112-to-48 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 20 starts covering 110 innings for Triple-A Buffalo this season.

After three rocky starts, Miley showed why he was named to the All-Star roster against Houston last Saturday, giving up one run over seven innings with nine strikeouts. He has allowed one run in four of his last five home games, going 4-1 with a 1.96 ERA. Miley gave up four runs in six innings against the Mets in New York on May 4.

WALK-OFFS

1. The Mets switched backup catchers on Wednesday, optioning Mike Nickeas to Triple-A Buffalo and promoting Rob Johnson from the Bisons.

2. Arizona C Miguel Montero set the franchise record for games caught on Wednesday at 538, passing Chris Snyder.

3. Mets’ reliever Frank Francisco (oblique) gave up a run in two-thirds of an inning in his first rehab appearance for Double-A Binghamton on Wednesday.