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May 31, 2009 - 10:40 PM By BRETT HUSTON STATS Writer

New York (27-21) at Pittsburgh (22-27), 7:05 p.m. EDT

There was a time when Livan Hernandez could front a team's rotation. At this stage of his career, the burly right-hander is generally considered nothing more than a fringe starter.

The New York Mets' recent opponents may disagree.

After an unbeaten May, Hernandez will look to get off to a similarly hot start in June when the surging Mets open a four-game road set against the Pittsburgh Pirates on Monday night.

New York (28-21) compiled a 4.46 staff ERA during a 9-12 April, but bettered that mark to a major leagues-best 3.34 in May, and went 19-9.

Hernandez (4-1, 4.28 ERA), who only locked up the Mets' fifth starter spot late in spring training, has been a major contributor to the turnaround. The veteran right-hander had a 6.75 ERA in four April starts but went 3-0 with a 2.70 ERA over five May outings, concluding with a complete game, six-strikeout effort Tuesday in a 6-1 win against Washington.

It took Hernandez 127 pitches - plus an estimated 85 warming up - for his first nine-inning complete game since May 7, 2008.

"I think he's just getting loose when he gets to 100," bullpen coach Randy Niemann told the Mets' official Web site. "He could have pitched when they didn't have pitch counts."

New York got six shutout innings from John Maine on Sunday in its series finale against Florida before he felt ill and left the game. Still, Maine paved the way to a 3-2 victory, the club's fifth in six games.

When the Mets get six innings or more from a starter, they're 22-7.

"Our pitching has really stepped up for us," manager Jerry Manuel said.

One of those victories came May 10, when Hernandez and New York finished a three-game sweep of Pittsburgh (22-28). Hernandez allowed two runs in six innings to improve to 4-4 in his career against the Pirates.

On Monday he'll get a rematch with Pittsburgh's starter from that series finale. Ian Snell (1-6, 5.43) lost despite a solid showing, yielding three runs over six innings while striking out five.

Snell allowed six runs and eight hits in five innings Tuesday against the Chicago Cubs in a rain-shortened 6-1 loss.

"I am trying, I think, too hard to win games instead of just letting myself just go out there and pitch," Snell told the Pirates' official Web site. "I think I'm thinking a little bit too much in every at-bat with every hitter to try and trick them with this instead of throwing what I believe in. I think I mess up when I do that."

Snell is 0-2 with a 6.33 ERA in five starts against the Mets - all Pittsburgh losses.

Regulars Carlos Delgado and Jose Reyes are out for New York, and Snell may also miss Carlos Beltran. The Mets center fielder, batting .352, sat out Sunday's win with a stomach virus and is considered day-to-day.

Fill-in Angel Pagan left Sunday's game with a groin injury and may also miss a few games.

The Pirates have dropped four of five, scoring two or fewer runs in each contest. Nate McLouth's first-inning homer was all they could muster Sunday in a 2-1 loss to Houston.

Pittsburgh has scored one run or been shut out 15 times this season.