Series Preview: SF Giants @ Mets - Cobb and Conforto make their return

Unfortunately, the SF Giants weren't able to extend their series winning streak behind a strong start from Keaton Winn. No matter - they're still 9 games over .500, and right in the thick of things in a tight NL West race. Even if the Giants don't play to the 100-something win pace they've been playing at over the last month and a half, they'll end June in a strong position after their recent surge.

The good news is that they get to travel to New York to face the spiraling Mets, who many saw as contenders before the start of this year. And they'll avoid Max Scherzer and Kodai Senga, who have already combined for 158.1 innings with a mid-3.00's ERA. Instead, they'll get Carlos Carrasco, David Peterson, and a not-quite-ace-like Justin Verlander this weekend.

The Giants, meanwhile, will be getting back a pitcher who deserves to be right up there at the top of their rotation. Alex Cobb is set to start the first game of the series on Friday as he returns from a left oblique strain. He may not be as sharp as he usually is, but his presence looms large as the Giants try to nail down roles in an unsettled rotation. If he can return and provide a 1-2 punch with Webb at the top of the rotation, it'll give the Giants a tremendous amount of flexibility at a Trade Deadline that's looking extremely light on top-shelf starters.

Who will step up for the Giants as they try to take the series in Flushing? Despite all their wins, the Giants' bats have been quite cold lately; as a team, they've put up a .658 OPS in the last 15 days, good (well, bad enough) for 24th in the league. Narrow that scope down to the last 7 days, and it's a .638 OPS, down to 25th.

Michael Conforto, who leads the Giants with 12 home runs, might be a candidate for an offensive spark. He slumped mightily during the Giants' big win streak, recording only one hit in seven games against San Diego and LA. But he broke out in a big way against Arizona, with five hits and three walks last weekend. He went cold again against Toronto, though. Is it time for him to break out, or will he continue to scuffle amidst some big-time expectations?

He'll have every motivation to put on a show, since this series represents a homecoming for himself and teammate Wilmer Flores. Both men had played the majority of their careers in New York before finding their way to the Giants. Flores, of course, has been in San Francisco for a few years, and played again inside Citi Field from the visiting dugout. But for Conforto, the seven years he spent with the Mets to start his career loom large, much in the same way that the Brandon Belt reunion in Toronto evoked bittersweet feelings.

But in the frantic divisional races sweeping baseball, there's not much time to feel wistful. Every inning counts, and soon, the pitchers will toe the rubber. We've got you covered with the important stats and how to watch, down below.

Series Details

Who: SF Giants at New York Mets
Where: Citi Field, Flushing, New York
When: June 30 - July 2, Friday (4:10 PM), Saturday (1:10 PM), Sunday (1:10 PM). All times Pacific.

Giants' current streak: L2, 6-4 in last 10. 45-36 overall, 3rd place in NL West (2.5 GB)

Mets' current streak: W2, 5-5 in last 10. 46-36 overall, 4th place in AL East

Projected starters

Monday: Alex Cobb (5-2, 3.09 ERA) vs. Carlos Carrasco (2-3, 6.19 ERA)

Tuesday: Anthony DeSclafani (4-7, 4.28 ERA) vs. Justin Verlander (2-4, 4.11)

Wednesday: TBD vs. David Peterson* (2-6, 7.00 ERA)

*Indicates LHP

**Indicates opener

How to watch, listen

SF Giants broadcast: NBC Sports Bay Area, KNBR 680/1510 AM
Mets broadcast: SNY, WCBS 880/ESPN Deportes 1050, Audacy
National broadcasts: ESPN (Sunday only)