Florida @ New York preview

Last Meeting ( Aug 3, 2011 ) Florida 0, NY Mets 0

THE STORY: Hurricane Irene wreaked havoc with the schedules of the Florida Marlins and New York Mets. After weathering the brutal storm, the National League East clubs will open a five-game series with a scheduled doubleheader on Monday at Citi Field. Manager Terry Collins' club is expected to see the return of superstar shortstop Jose Reyes, who has been sidelined since Aug. 7 with a strained left hamstring. The Marlins have made themselves at home in Queens, winning all four meetings this season. All told, Florida has taken seven of 10 from New York.

TV: 4:10 p.m., 7:40 p.m. ET, FSFL (Florida), SNY (New York)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Marlins RH Anibal Sanchez (7-6, 4.01 ERA) vs. Mets RH R.A. Dickey (5-11, 3.72 ERA).

After snapping a five-game losing skid with a stellar outing against the Colorado Rockies, Sanchez settled for a no-decision versus the San Diego Padres in his last start. The 27-year-old Venezuelan permitted three runs on six hits in five innings. Sanchez also collected a no-decision in his lone meeting with the Mets this season. He yielded four runs on 11 hits in seven innings. Dickey seeks his first victory in over a month. The 36-year-old knuckleballer suffered three straight losses before collecting a pair of no-decisions. Dickey won three of five career meetings with the Marlins - including his lone one this season April 3.

ABOUT THE METS (62-68): New York benefited from a two-hit, 13-strikeout complete game by Chris Capuano to record a 6-0 home victory over the Atlanta Braves on Friday. With Hurricane Irene looming, Saturday's and Sunday's contests were quickly rescheduled to be played as a doubleheader Sept. 8. Reyes has struggled against Sanchez (6-for-25), but is 15-for-43 with three homers versus Nolasco. Reyes won't provide the lone return for the Mets, who have won two in a row after losing five straight. Outfielder Jason Bay is expected to make an appearance after being sidelined since Wednesday with a shoulder injury. Nick Evans has fared well since taking over as the team's starting first baseman. He is 6-for-10 in his last three games.

ABOUT THE MARLINS (59-72): Manager Jack McKeon's club has been haunted by Hurricane Irene, which caused the club to shuffle Thursday's contest against the Reds into a doubleheader Wednesday. On Friday, Florida squeaked out a 6-5 triumph over Philadelphia, but saw the final two games of that series washed away. Shortstop Hanley Ramirez has fared well in a pair of rehab starts, going 3-for-7 with High-A Jupiter. Ramirez, who is working his way back from a left shoulder sprain, has targeted Wednesday as a potential return to the Marlins.

FINAL PITCH: "It's hard to complain about our rough travel schedule when you realize the seriousness of what could be going on. If the man upstairs doesn't want us playing baseball, then that's just kind of the way it is." - Florida catcher John Buck.