It's a battle of struggling teams when the New York Mets face off against the Arizona Diamondbacks for a three-game series in Phoenix starting Friday, May 8. Both squads are looking to turn their seasons around, and this matchup could be a pivotal moment for either club.

The Mets come into this series riding a bit of momentum, having won four of their last six games on a challenging road trip. They took two of three from both the Los Angeles Angels and the Colorado Rockies, though they'll admit they could have—and probably should have—swept both series against those weaker opponents. Still, after a brutal April that left them tied with the San Francisco Giants for the worst record in baseball at 14-23, any positive step forward is welcome.

Now, the Mets face an Arizona team that's in an even deeper funk. The Diamondbacks have lost six of their last seven games, dropping to 17-19, and the culprit is clear: their pitching staff is in shambles. Arizona ranks 26th in MLB with a 4.78 ERA, and their starters are even worse at 28th with a 5.09 ERA. The lone bright spot has been Eduardo Rodriguez, who's pitching like an All-Star with a 2.50 ERA over seven starts. Unfortunately for New York, Rodriguez is scheduled to start the Sunday finale—and he already beat the Mets at Citi Field back in April.

But here's the good news for Mets fans: the offense should have plenty of opportunities to break out in the first two games. They'll face Ryne Nelson (1-3, 6.61 ERA) on Friday and Merrill Kelly (1-3, 9.95 ERA) on Saturday. Those are matchups that any struggling lineup would welcome.

Keep an eye on Mets starter McLean, who takes the mound Friday night. He's been excellent overall, with a 2.97 ERA and holding hitters to a .184 batting average, but he hasn't earned a win since April 3. Some of that is due to poor run support, but he's also had trouble getting through the fifth and sixth innings when facing a lineup for the third time. His last outing was his worst of the season—just four innings, three runs, six hits, and a walk.

On the other side, watch for outfielder Benge, who has provided a spark for the Mets on this road trip. He's been playing brilliant defense and has finally come to life at the plate. If he can keep that energy going, he could be the difference-maker in a series that feels wide open.

Prediction: The Mets have the edge in starting pitching outside of Rodriguez's start, and their offense should feast on Arizona's struggling arms. Look for New York to take two of three in the desert.