New York @ Los Angeles preview

Last Meeting ( Jul 5, 2011 ) NY Mets 6, LA Dodgers 0

THE STORY: The Los Angeles Dodgers will be looking to avoid a fifth consecutive defeat when they host the New York Mets on Wednesday night. The Dodgers fell a season-worst 13 games under .500 and became the fourth team in the majors to reach the 50-loss mark with Tuesday’s 6-0 shutout loss to the Mets. It was the ninth time Los Angeles has been blanked this season. The Mets have won three straight without star shortstop Jose Reyes, who suffered a strained left hamstring in Saturday’s loss to the Yankees.

TV: 10:10 p.m. ET, SNY, FSPT

PITCHING MATCHUP: Mets LH Jonathon Niese (7-7, 3.72) vs. Dodgers RH Hiroki Kuroda (6-9, 2.90 ERA).

The key for Niese is to get through the early innings. He has lost only three times since May 1, and in each of the defeats he had the Mets staring at a minimum three-run deficit within the first two innings. In his last outing, Niese was touched for three first-inning runs by the Yankees before pitching six scoreless innings. He got a no-decision in his only career start against the Dodgers.

When Kuroda takes the mound, Los Angeles' offense operates like owner Frank McCourt's bank account – at a deficit. He went 0-for-June after allowing seven earned runs in five starts. Kuroda ended a seven-start winless streak last time out, blanking the Angels on three hits over seven innings. The Dodgers scored one run or fewer in five of the seven outings during the drought. He is 1-4 with a 5.70 ERA in six starts vs. New York.

ABOUT THE DODGERS (37-50): The wheels continue to come off for Los Angeles, which has scored four runs during its four-game skid. Health issues are also cropping up, with second baseman Aaron Miles exiting Tuesday’s game after he was hit on the elbow by a pitch. Miles was batting .320 and on a 9-for-18 tear in his last five games prior to Tuesday. In addition, right fielder Andre Ethier was scratched from the lineup with a migraine and high fever. Matt Kemp had a pair of hits to lead the Dodgers, who stranded 13 runners Tuesday.

ABOUT THE METS (44-42): With Reyes, the leading hitter in the majors with a .354 average, sitting out a third straight game, the Mets replaced their normal small-ball attack by going with the long ball Tuesday. Jason Bay hit a pair of home runs, his fifth and sixth of the year, to match his total from last season. He has 12 RBIs in an eight-game hitting streak. Carlos Beltran extended his hitting streak to 10 games with a two-run homer. Justin Turner had a hit Tuesday and has now reached base in 27 consecutive games.

FINAL PITCH: The season is over for Dodgers starter Jon Garland, who will undergo surgery on his right shoulder Monday. Garland has damage to his labrum and rotator cuff. He had never been on the disabled list in his career prior to this season, making a minimum of 32 starts for 10 straight years.