New York @ Detroit preview

Last Meeting ( Jun 28, 2011 ) NY Mets 14, Detroit 3

THE STORY: The New York Mets' recent success continued with a power surge Tuesday, and they will try to continue their hot play when their three-game series against the host Detroit Tigers continues Wednesday night. The surging Mets are better than .500 for the first time since they were 3-2 on April 6, but the Tigers would like to send them back to the break-even mark with their 13th win in their last 18 home games.

TV: 7:05 p.m. ET, SNY (New York), FS Detroit

PITCHING MATCHUP: Mets LH Chris Capuano (6-7, 3.99 ERA) vs. Tigers LH Phil Coke (1-7, 4.32). Capuano left his last start - Thursday against Oakland - after six scoreless innings because of a cramp in the right side of his abdomen. It was his second scoreless outing in his last three starts, and he is 3-1 with a 1.08 ERA over his last four starts. Capuano has faced the Tigers only once - in 2006 - and earned the win with seven innings of three-run ball. Coke is still looking for his first win since April 14 against Oakland. In 11 starts since, he is 0-5 with a 4.89 ERA. Control problems have sometimes been an issue for Coke - he has walked 28 in 73 innings and issued a career-high seven walks June 18 at Colorado. He allowed six runs (five earned) over 4 2/3 innings in a 7-6 loss to Arizona on Friday. Coke has made four relief appearances against the Mets and has not allowed a run over three innings.

ABOUT THE METS (40-39): The Mets have won five of six, but they are still 9 1/2 games behind National League East leader Philadelphia, which boasts the best record in the majors. New York had not hit a home run in its previous five games before connecting for three homers among their season-high 18 hits in Tuesday's 14-3 win. Those homers included grand slams by Jason Bay and Carlos Beltran - the franchise's first since Angel Pagan on Aug. 1, 2009.

ABOUT THE TIGERS (43-37): Detroit's offense has been hot of late with double-digit hits in six consecutive games, but the Tigers couldn't get the job done with men in scoring position Tuesday. Despite 10 hits, they scored only three runs - their lowest total in six games - and left 10 men on. They might need slugger Miguel Cabrera to get things going again. Cabrera has been successful against Capuano - 7-for-19 (.368) with two home runs, but eight strikeouts. Reliever Daniel Schlereth allowed both grand slams Tuesday.

FINAL PITCH: Mets shortstop Jose Reyes went 4-for-4 with a double and a triple Tuesday. He is 12-for-22 (.545) over his past five games and has 15 triples - seven more than anyone else in the majors.