New York @ Cincinnati preview

Last Meeting ( Aug 15, 2012 ) NY Mets 1, Cincinnati 6

The Cincinnati Reds are turning the National League Central Division race into a runaway, building a season-high seven-game lead over the Pittsburgh Pirates and St. Louis Cardinals. The Reds are riding a five-game winning streak as they go for a three-game sweep of the New York Mets in Thursday's series finale. Cincinnati has received superb pitching, allowing three runs in the past four games and holding the Mets to a combined one run on 10 hits in the first two games of the series.

The Reds own the best home record (38-20) but that still didn't prevent them from resorting to gamemanship against Mets ace R.A. Dickey, forcing him to remove a pair of friendship bracelets made by his daughters. New York has been held to three runs or fewer in six of its last eight and has dropped a season-worst seven games below .500. David Wright and Ike Davis, the Mets' Nos. 3-4 hitters, are a combined 0-for-12 in the series.

TV: 7:10 p.m. ET, SNY (New York), FSOH (Cincinnati)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Mets RH Matt Harvey (1-3, 3.63 ERA) vs. Reds RH Homer Bailey (10-7, 4.08)

Harvey has lost three consecutive starts since his electrifying major league debut on July 26, when he struck out 11 in 5 1/3 scoreless innings at Arizona. He struggled with his control in his home debut last time out, allowing two runs on two hits and five walks in a 4-0 loss to Atlanta. The Mets haven't provided the rookie with much run support, scoring seven runs in his four starts.

Bailey has turned in three straight shaky performances, although he earned the win against the Chicago Cubs in his last start while yielding four runs on nine hits in 5 2/3 innings. Bailey has surrendered 14 runs on 27 hits over 14 innings in his last three outings, following a stretch in which he gave up six earned runs in his previous five starts. He limited the Mets to one run in eight innings on June 16.

WALK-OFFS

1. New York hasn't been swept in Cincinnati since the season-opening series in 2005

2. Reds RF Jay Bruce has gone deep in three straight games and is eyeing his second four-game homer streak of the season.

3. Despite his strong effort against New York earlier this year, Bailey is 1-1 with a 7.41 ERA in three career starts against the Mets.