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Jun 15, 2009 - 5:33 PM By NICOLINO DIBENEDETTO STATS Writer

New York (32-29) at Baltimore (27-36), 7:05 p.m. EDT

Coming off their most lopsided loss in almost nine years, the undermanned New York Mets will have yet another injury to deal with when they open a three-game interleague series against the Baltimore Orioles at Camden Yards.

The Mets (32-29) have dropped four of their last five, including a 15-0 rout against the New York Yankees on Sunday, when ace Johan Santana was tagged for a career-high nine runs and nine hits in three innings. It was their most lopsided defeat since losing 16-1 at San Diego on Aug. 22, 2000.

Prior to Sunday's loss, the Mets learned Gary Sheffield is going to get an MRI on his sore right knee. The 40-year-old right fielder said the knee has been bothering him on and off for a couple of weeks, but he decided to play through it while the club dealt with a rash of injuries and a flu bug.

The Mets already are missing slugger Carlos Delgado (hip) and speedster Jose Reyes (right calf) from their lineup.

"I'll be able to play," Sheffield said. "I just want to be able to explode like I want. I'll be able to get the job done."

Sheffield, who went 5 for 13 with two homers and four RBIs in three games during the weekend's Subway Series, is batting .270 with seven homers and 24 RBIs in 52 games. He'll likely be used as a designated hitter against the Orioles (27-36).

"I think the DH, this has come at a good time for us," manager Jerry Manuel said of Interleague games in an AL park. "No question."

New York's Mike Pelfrey (4-2, 4.68 ERA) seeks his first win in nearly six weeks when he starts against Baltimore for the first time.

The right-hander is 0-2 despite a respectable 4.10 ERA in six starts since a 7-5 victory over Philadelphia on May 7, as he's received only 10 total runs of support in that stretch.

He did, though, endure his worst outing of the season June 4, when he gave up nine runs, nine hits, four walks and one hit batter in 3 2-3 innings of an 11-6 loss at Pittsburgh.

Pelfrey regrouped for a solid effort last Wednesday, allowing four runs - two earned - and six hits in six innings of a 5-4, 11-inning loss to Philadelphia.

The Mets are 12-7 all-time against the Orioles, but haven't faced them since dropping two of three at home June 16-18, 2006. They last visited Camden Yards in 2001.

The Orioles are looking for a third consecutive victory after beating Atlanta 11-2 on Sunday and 8-4 on Saturday to take a three- game set. Those wins followed a 2-10 stretch during which they hit .227 while getting outscored 59-22.

Baltimore ended that offensive slump in the two wins against the Braves, collecting 29 hits including three homers.

"(Sunday) everybody came to the ballpark with a carry-over, a lot of confidence," Orioles manager Dave Trembley said.

Despite their promising weekend, the Orioles are still at the bottom of the AL East, six games back of fourth-place Toronto.

They'll give the ball to Jeremy Guthrie (4-6, 5.52), who is 0-2 with an 8.53 ERA and five homers allowed in his last three starts.

The right-hander lost again Wednesday, allowing four runs and six hits - two homers - in a 4-1 defeat at Seattle. He's been touched for an AL-high 16 home runs on the season.

"It's a result of pitching, pitching in the zone and up. It happens," said Guthrie, who will make his first start against the Mets.