Mets @ Giants

Who will WIN this matchup?

New York Mets (44-53)

@ San Francisco Giants (49-49)

Starting Pitchers:

Lockett (NYM): 0-1; 11.74 ERA

Samardzija (SF) 7-7; 3.93 ERA

Last 10 Games Played:

New York Mets: 5-5

San Francisco Giants: 9-1

Current odds:

New York Mets: (+138)

San Francisco Giants: (-148)

• After pulling even at .500 for the first time since Opening Day, the San Francisco Giants now are in prime position to make a run at the second wild-card spot in the National League. The Giants carry a season-high seven-game winning streak into Saturday afternoon’s contest against the visiting New York Mets, who have scored a total of two runs in the first two games of the series. San Francisco rallied for a 3-2, 16-inning victory in the opener before escaping with a 1-0 win on Friday, when Alex Dickerson scored from first base on left fielder Dominic Smith’s error with two outs in the 10th frame. Tyler Beede allowed three runs over eight innings for the surging Giants, who have won 14 of their last 16 and pulled within two games of the second wild card.

• The Mets are nine games under .500 after losing two straight following a four-game winning streak. Rookie Pete Alonso leads the team with 32 home runs and 72 RBIs but went 0-for-4 with three strikeouts in Friday’s loss and might be due for a day off after participating in last week’s All-Star events.

• Lockett is making a spot start in place of Zack Wheeler, who was placed on the injured list with shoulder fatigue last week but hopes to return by the end of the month. The 25-year-old Lockett gave up at least four earned runs in each of his two starts late last month. Lockett started for Triple-A Syracuse last Saturday, allowing one run and eight hits with four strikeouts while throwing 88 pitches in 5 1/3 innings.

• Samardzija won his third straight start on Monday, allowing two runs with nine strikeouts over 6 2/3 innings versus Colorado. The 34-year-old native of Indiana posted a 5.93 ERA over five starts in June but has allowed four runs over 21 2/3 frames in three turns this month. Wilson Ramos is 6-for-16 with three homers against Samardzija, who is 0-5 with a 7.32 ERA in 11 career games (five starts) versus the Mets.

• San Francisco’s 27-15 record since June 1 is third-best in the NL behind Washington (27-12) and Atlanta (29-13).

• New York recalled RHPs Stephen Nogosek and Tyler Bashlor from Syracuse while optioning INF Luis Guillorme and RHP Chris Mazza to the minor-league squad.

• The Giants recalled Ty Blach from Triple-A Sacramento and optioned fellow LHP Williams Jerez to the River Cats.