New York @ Arizona preview

Last Meeting ( Aug 13, 2011 ) NY Mets 4, Arizona 6

THE STORY: With their 6-4 victory over the New York Mets on Saturday, the Arizona Diamondbacks surpassed their total win total of last year. On Sunday, the surprising Diamondbacks aim for a series sweep of the visiting Mets, who have lost four straight. Arizona has won five straight and sits two games ahead of San Francisco in the National League West.

TV: 4:10 p.m. ET, WPIX (New York), FS Arizona

PITCHING MATCHUP: Mets LH Chris Capuano (9-10, 4.51 ERA) at Diamondbacks RH Jason Marquis (8-6, 4.48).

Capuano, who gave up four runs in six innings Tuesday against San Diego, is 1-3 with a 3.77 ERA in six career games - five starts - against the Diamondbacks. The Mets are 5-2 in Capuano’s last seven road starts. Marquis allowed seven runs - four earned - on nine hits over four innings Tuesday against Houston. He has a 12.38 ERA since being acquired from the Nationals on July 30. Marquis is 6-7 with a 4.64 ERA in 24 career games - 17 starts - against the Mets.

ABOUT THE METS (58-61): When manager Terry Collins named Mike Pelfrey the staff ace earlier this year, he was surely expecting the righthander to take a step forward. So were his teammates. Pelfrey came under fire Friday after saying the team had unrealistic expectations this season. “He’s cutting his own throat," said one player. “What's his record, six and nine? He’s supposed to be the ace of the [bleeping] staff. Why don’t you go and win 12 or 13 games?” Pelfrey is arbitration eligible after the season, and he said he would like to return next season. He was pulled from Saturday’s game after being hit by a line drive near his throwing elbow, but X-rays were negative and he is expected to make his next start. Second baseman Justin Turner has missed the last two games with a variety of minor injuries, but he should be in the starting lineup Sunday. Mike Baxter has made a nice impression since joining the Mets last week. Baxter, who grew up in Queens, went 2-for-4 with a run-scoring triple Saturday.

ABOUT THE DIAMONDBACKS (67-53): With Xavier Nady expected to be out for 4-to-6 weeks with a fractured left hand, Arizona could have promoted Juan Miranda from Triple A Reno to take Nady's spot on the roster. Instead, they signed veteran Lyle Overbay, who was released by Pittsburgh last week. Rookie Paul Goldschmidt will likely be the everyday starter at first, especially since Overbay was batting .227 in 103 games with the Pirates. However, Goldschmidt is batting .216 after going 0-for-4 with four strikeouts Saturday. Shortstop Stephen Drew visited the clubhouse Saturday for the first time since his season-ending ankle injury on July 20. Arizona is 15-7 since Drew’s injury. As expected, first-round pick Trevor Bauer has been promoted to Double A Mobile, where he will start on Sunday. Also in Mobile, top pitching prospect Jarrod Parker has a 3.14 ERA with 41 strikeouts in 48 2/3 innings since the All-Star break. There’s a chance both Bauer and Parker could be called up to the majors in September.

FINAL PITCH: Arizona will start Josh Collmenter, Joe Saunders and Ian Kennedy during its three-game series starting Tuesday in Philadelphia.