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Dodgers-Mets Preview

Apr 27, 2010 - 1:01 AM By NICOLINO DIBENEDETTO STATS Writer

Los Angeles (8-10) at New York (10-9), 4:05 p.m. EDT

The New York Mets got a little help from the weather in order to complete their first sweep of 2010. A rain-induced day off might have provided their lineup a welcome break.

The Mets look to extend their season-high winning streak when they open a three-game set against the struggling Los Angeles Dodgers with a Tuesday doubleheader.

New York (10-9) is above .500 for the first time since opening day after beating Atlanta 1-0 on Sunday as heavy rain halted the contest in the sixth inning and secured its first series sweep.

"We deserve a break here and there," manager Jerry Manuel said.

The Mets got another break Monday as the opener of this series was rained out, creating a doubleheader Tuesday.

New York is now searching for its first five-game winning streak since July 25-30. Outstanding pitching has been key over the last four games, as the staff owns a 1.41 ERA during the stretch to compensate for an offense hitting .239 with one homer.

Johan Santana (2-1, 2.59 ERA) will take the mound for the first game Tuesday. The left-hander has allowed one run and 12 hits with 14 strikeouts in 13 1-3 innings to help the Mets win his last two starts. However, he's only received four total runs of support in his last three outings.

Santana has also been superb in two victories against the Dodgers (8-10), yielding one run and eight hits while fanning 15 in 14 2-3 innings.

Oliver Perez (0-2, 3.71 ERA) is also hoping the Mets break out offensively after providing him with five total runs of support in losing all three of his starts.

The left-hander fell victim to the struggling offense again in Wednesday's 9-3 loss to the Chicago Cubs. He labored through 97 pitches in five innings, allowing three runs while the bats produced one run of help.

"If I don't have my fastball ... I have to throw (off-speed pitches) more," Perez told the team's official website. "They helped me."

Perez is 3-1 with a 2.84 ERA in four starts against the Dodgers. He engineered the Mets' only win in six meetings against them last year, allowing two runs and four hits with seven walks in five innings of a 5-4 victory on July 8 at Citi Field.

The Mets are winning despite a slumping David Wright. They've won six of eight while their All-Star third baseman has hit .154 with four RBIs.

A series with Los Angeles could spur Wright. He has a .425 average with four homers and 35 RBIs in 39 meetings.

The Dodgers are entering the final series of their nine-game road trip. So far, they've dropped four of six, including Sunday's 1-0 defeat at Washington. Los Angeles mustered five runs and a .204 batting average during the three-game set against the Nationals.

"We need to get better. We just need to get it all together," manager Joe Torre said.

Torre will counter Santana with Hiroki Kuroda (2-0, 2.18) in the opener as he looks to help Los Angeles to a win for a fourth consecutive start.

The right-hander, though, was shaky in his last outing Wednesday, surrendering six runs - three earned - and seven hits while serving up two homers in 5 2-3 innings of a 14-6 win at Cincinnati.

Kuroda has generally thrived away from home, going 5-1 with a 2.09 ERA in his last seven starts. However, he's 0-2 with a 12.86 ERA in two road meetings with the Mets.

Charlie Haeger (0-2, 6.46) will face Perez - and the Mets - for the first time. The right-handed knuckleballer has been hit hard while losing his last two starts, allowing 11 runs and 12 hits - two homers - with seven walks in 8 1-3 innings.

The Dodgers' leader with seven homers and 20 RBIs, Matt Kemp has feasted on Mets' pitching, hitting .436 with six RBIs in his last 10 matchups in New York. The center fielder is 4 for 11 with a double and a homer against Perez.