Colorado at New York

After a particularly anemic performance by their offense last week on the road, the New York Mets are looking for better results during their homestand.

They also hope a favorable matchup will help R.A. Dickey bounce back following a shaky start.

Dickey will try to tie the major league lead with his 16th win Monday night when the Mets open a four-game series against the depleted Colorado Rockies.

Following a 2-4 road trip, New York returns home to face Colorado (46-73) and Houston, the two worst teams in the majors.

That may be just what the Mets (57-64) need after visiting a pair of division leaders in Cincinnati and Washington. They lost 5-2 to the Nationals on Sunday, going 1 for 11 with runners in scoring position.

New York has lost nine of 13 overall, averaging 2.8 runs. It went 5 for 41 (.122) with men on second or third during the road trip.

"You've got to get key hits," manager Terry Collins said. "We sat here the entire first half and talked about the key hits we're getting with two outs. (Now) we're not getting them. That's a big difference."

Andres Torres had a brutal trip, going 0 for 16 with seven strikeouts. Despite going 2 for 5 in the finale, David Wright hit .227 over the six games.

Dickey (15-4, 2.89 ERA) was hit hard Wednesday in Cincinnati, giving up five runs and 10 hits in six innings of a 6-1 loss. The knuckleballer struck out nine but matched a season high by allowing three homers.

"When you throw mediocre knuckleballs and they don't miss them, they can be hit a long way," Dickey said.

After going 12-1 with a 2.40 ERA in 17 starts before the All-Star break, Dickey is 3-3 with a 4.10 ERA since. He is still 7-1 with a 2.66 ERA at home this year, throwing his third complete game there in his last home start Aug. 9 in a 6-1 win over Miami.

Dickey has only faced Colorado once before, allowing five runs in 6 1-3 innings of a 6-5 loss April 14, 2011.

This time, he'll encounter a depleted Rockies team, which completed a 5-2 homestand with a 3-2 win over Miami on Sunday.

Outfielder Eric Young Jr. left after one inning with a strain in his left ribcage, then shortstop Josh Rutledge was removed in the fifth with tightness in his left thigh.

Prior to the game, Colorado put outfielder Michael Cuddyer (strained oblique) back on the 15-day disabled list, where he rejoins Troy Tulowitzki and Todd Helton.

"There's nothing you can do about other people getting hurt," pitcher Adam Ottavino said. "When you come into a tough spot all you can do is just keep playing."

The Rockies, who swept a four-game set at Citi Field last year, lost two of three to the Mets at home in April. Wright went 6 for 10 with two doubles, four RBIs and five walks.

Colorado sends Alex White (2-6, 5.74) to the mound to face the Mets for the first time after he gave up two runs and three hits in four innings of a 5-3 win over the Marlins on Thursday.

Although he's 0-3 in his last eight starts, White has pitched effectively over the last four. Colorado has won three of those games, with the right-hander recording a 3.63 ERA.