New York @ Florida preview
Sun Life Stadium
Last Meeting ( Jul 18, 2011 ) Florida 4, NY Mets 1
THE STORY: The last-place Florida Marlins are reeling from a three-game home sweep at the hands of the San Diego Padres, but they hope to change their fortune on Friday. The Marlins will host the New York Mets and righthander Mike Pelfrey, who they've dominated over the years. Pelfrey will face off with Chris Volstad when the National Leauge East rivals begin a three-game series at Sun Life Stadium.
TV: 7:10 p.m. ET, SportsNet New York, Fox Sports Florida
PITCHING MATCHUP: Mets RH Mike Pelfrey (5-9, 4.67 ERA) vs. Marlins RH Chris Volstad (5-8, 5.59 ERA)
Pelfrey has lost two in a row and four of his last five. He lasted only five innings and allowed four runs in an 8-5 loss to the Philadelphia Phillies on Sunday. The 27-year-old has not fared well against Florida. In 14 starts against the Marlins, he is 1-7 with a 5.24 ERA. The lone win came in 2006, and Pelfrey has lost all seven decisions since.
Volstad is coming off his shortest outing of the year, as he allowed four runs in three innings of a 7-5 road win against the Chicago Cubs on Sunday. He didn't factor in that decision, but he has won three of his last four decisions. In five starts against the Mets, Volstad is 1-2 with a 3.18 ERA.
ABOUT THE METS (49-49): The Mets are in an awkward position. They sit squarely at .500 and are 8 1/2 games out of the wild card. In their pocket, however, are a number of potential trade chips, most notably outfielder Carlos Beltran. With the lineup finally approaching full strength — third baseman David Wright is expected to return from the disabled list Friday after being sidelined since May 15 with a stress fracture in his back — a successful series in Florida might convince the Mets to stand pat. Jason Bay sat out Thursday with a tight hamstring, but he is expected to be back in the lineup Friday.
ABOUT THE MARLINS (47-52): The sweep against the Padres constitutes the Marlins' first three-game losing streak under interim manager Jack McKeon, who is 15-12 since taking over June 20. The offense managed only six runs in the series against San Diego, but leadoff man Emilio Bonifacio kept up his hot hitting. He extended his hitting streak to 20 games with an RBI single Thursday, giving him the longest active streak in the majors.
FINAL PITCH: The Marlins have lost nine of their past 11 games against NL East opponents and are 13-19 against the division this season. The Cubs (12-24) are the only National League team with fewer wins against their own division.