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Dodgers-Mets Preview

Jul 6, 2009 - 11:07 PM By NICOLINO DIBENEDETTO STATS Writer

Los Angeles (52-30) at New York (39-42), 7:10 p.m. EDT

Manny Ramirez's return from suspension already has put a major spotlight on the Los Angeles Dodgers. Playing their next series in the Big Apple will likely brighten it.

Ramirez and the major league-best Dodgers will try to withstand that added attention Tuesday night when they open a three-game set with the struggling New York Mets.

The 12-time All-Star, hitting .333 with seven homers and 21 RBIs in 30 games, returned to the Dodgers (52-30) over the weekend and went 1 for 7 with a solo homer to help them win two of three at San Diego.

While Ramirez received a mixed reaction Friday upon his return from a 50-game drug suspension, with many Dodger fans having been in attendance, he'll likely find a much different welcoming in his first game at Citi Field.

"There's really nothing to prepare you for New York," Dodgers manager Joe Torre told the team's official Web site. "When he had his press conference the other day, I said, 'Well, you're going to have to do this one more time in New York,' and he said, 'We do?' I said, 'Yeah, you know we do.'

"He's uncomfortable. He's basically a shy person. He's just uncomfortable, but he's ready for it."

Ramirez will likely start in left field after leg soreness moved him into a pinch-hitting role Sunday, when James Loney hit a homer in the 13th to help the Dodgers to a 7-6 victory. Los Angeles had squandered a six-run, fifth-inning lead, but improved to a major league-best 18-8 in one-run games.

Los Angeles is 22-8 this year when Ramirez plays.

His bat wasn't missed when these teams met at Dodger Stadium in mid-May, when Los Angeles pulled off a three-game sweep as its pitching staff held the Mets (39-42) to six runs.

Clayton Kershaw (5-5, 3.49 ERA) didn't pitch in that series but he's allowed just two runs in his last four starts - all Dodger wins - while striking out 26 in 23 2-3 innings.

The left-hander returns to the mound after laboring through five innings Wednesday, not getting a decision as he gave up one hit with five strikeouts and five walks in a 1-0 win over Colorado.

"It was a lot of effort involved to get through five innings (Wednesday)," Kershaw said. "There wasn't an easy out for me. Just had to battle all the way through, and sometimes when you're not able to throw strikes consistently, it's going to be like that."

Kershaw lasted just 3 2-3 innings in his only start against New York, giving up four runs and five hits in a 9-5 win on May 30, 2008.

The Mets have won only twice in their last 10 games, and are coming off a three-game sweep to NL East-leading Philadelphia as they were outscored 13-3 - including 2-0 on Sunday.

David Wright was 0 for 7 in the series and he's 5 for 40 with a homer and three RBIs over the last 10 games.

"Forget ... try to forget," Wright told the team's official Web site. "Right now, we're bad. And I'm not helping much."

Despite his slump, Wright has a .326 average and was one of four Mets named to the NL roster for the All-Star game.

He's hitting .427 with 34 RBIs in 36 games against the Dodgers after collecting four hits with an RBI in the last series.

The Mets will turn to Mike Pelfrey (6-3, 4.26) hoping he can build on a stellar performance in Wednesday's 1-0 win at Milwaukee. The right-hander scattered six hits in 7 2-3 innings to post only his second victory in 10 starts.

Pelfrey was solid in his only start against Los Angeles on May 31, 2008, allowing two runs and seven hits while not factoring in the decision of a 3-2 win.