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Mets-Marlins Preview

May 15, 2010 - 3:37 AM By ANTHONY GIORNALISTA STATS Senior Writer

New York (18-17) at Florida (17-18), 7:10 p.m. EDT

With Jorge Cantu back in the lineup, the Florida Marlins hope to build on a much-needed offensive outburst at the plate.

The Marlins are expected to have their cleanup hitter back as they try to win three in a row for the first time this season Saturday night against the struggling New York Mets.

Though Cantu was rested for the first time this year, Florida (18-18) hit a season-high four home runs in a 7-2 win over New York (18-18) on Friday, a day after winning 2-1 in the opener of this four-game series. The Marlins scored more than four runs for the first time since May 2, when they beat Washington 9-3.

Cantu, who has seven home runs and a team-high 29 RBIs, was replaced in the cleanup spot by Dan Uggla, who hit two home runs and drove in four after being rested in the series opener.

"It's definitely encouraging to put together some good at-bats, put some runs on the board and hit some home runs," said Uggla, whose 129 homers are tied with Derrek Lee for third in Marlins history.

Florida can only hope Cantu has a similar performance in his return to the lineup. The third baseman is 5 for 41 with four RBIs in his last 11 games.

Many of New York's hitters are in extended slumps, as well, and manager Jerry Manuel may finally make changes after threatening to shake up the lineup before Friday's game. He stuck with his usual order, and New York was limited to four hits for the second straight contest.

David Wright has struck out 20 times in his last 41 at-bats and is 5 for 24 over his last seven games. Jose Reyes went hitless in four at-bats to drop his average to .215, and Jeff Francoeur is batting .132 over his past 26 contests.

Among the options Manuel has is putting Reyes back in the leadoff spot, moving Wright from fifth to third in the order, and benching Francoeur for scrappy rookie Chris Carter.

"We're not swinging the bats the way we're capable of," Wright said. "We've got to just fight our way through it. It just takes one or two of those big hits and hope that everybody starts falling in line."

New York next faces Florida starter Nate Robertson (3-3, 4.54 ERA), who is coming off one of his most effective performances of the season, allowing two runs in six innings to earn a win in a 4-2 victory over Chicago on Monday. The left-hander posted an 8.10 ERA in losing his previous three outings.

Robertson is 1-0 with a 2.13 ERA in two career starts against the Mets.

New York counters with John Maine (1-2, 5.45), who appears to be settling down after a poor start, going 1-1 with a 2.50 ERA in his last three outings. The right-hander lost in his last appearance even though he was sharp, giving up two runs in six innings of a 3-2 loss to Washington on Monday.

Maine is 5-2 with a 3.45 ERA in 11 starts against the Marlins, striking out 67 in 62 2-3 innings.