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Mets-Brewers Preview

May 30, 2010 - 4:16 AM By ANTHONY GIORNALISTA STATS Senior Writer

New York (25-24) at Milwaukee (20-28), 2:10 p.m. EDT

After an outstanding homestand, the New York Mets are having trouble yet again on the road. A matchup with Randy Wolf may not help matters.

Owners of the National League's worst road record, the Mets look to end their struggles against the veteran left-hander as they conclude a three-game set with the Milwaukee Brewers on Sunday.

New York (25-25) won the last five contests of a six-game homestand, culminating in three straight shutouts. That momentum has not carried over to this six-game road trip.

The Mets are in danger of being swept by the Brewers (21-28), who have won four of their last five at Miller Park after a 4-14 start there. New York, meanwhile, has the second-worst road record in the majors, dropping to 6-16 after an 8-6 loss Saturday night in this series' middle game.

"I still see some fight in the team. I see us coming back in games, scoring in different frames and having opportunities. I still see a lot of positives happening on the road," Mets manager Jerry Manuel said. "We just can't seem to get over the hump. I think we will."

Now, New York has to face a pitcher who has always given it problems. Wolf (4-4, 4.52) is 6-0 with a 3.06 ERA in his last eight starts versus the Mets, and 12-5 with a 3.29 ERA in 30 starts all-time.

Wolf is coming off his best outing of the season, giving up four hits in seven scoreless innings to earn a win in a 6-1 victory over Houston on Tuesday night. The left-hander dominated after going 1-3 with a 7.66 ERA in his previous four starts.

The Mets will give the ball Sunday to R.A. Dickey (1-0, 1.50 ERA), who has been strong in two starts since being called up from Triple-A Buffalo on May 19, helping to settle a rotation that had been in flux.

The 35-year-old knuckleballer tossed eight scoreless innings and matched his career high with seven strikeouts in an 8-3 victory over Philadelphia on Tuesday night.

This will be Dickey's first start against the Brewers. He faced them twice in relief with Minnesota last season, throwing three shutout innings.

Dickey will have to contend with streaking Brewers right fielder Corey Hart, who hit a grand slam and a two-run homer in his first two at-bats Saturday after belting the first game-winning homer of his career in Friday night's series-opening 2-0 victory.

Hart became the first Brewer to homer in three straight plate appearances since Geoff Jenkins in 2003. He has 12 home runs, matching his total from last year.

"Hopefully I can stay comfortable and keep producing," he said. "For us, we've been up and down and we've tried to solidify the consistency in the lineup. I think that just helps to take pressure of those guys if I can stay on good pace."

Hart is batting .340 with five homers and 15 RBIs in 11 home games versus the Mets.

New York did have a productive game at the plate Saturday, rebounding after being shut out for the second time this season. Mets shortstop Jose Reyes had two hits, and is batting .484 (15 for 31) with a homer, two doubles, a triple and six RBIs over his last seven games, raising his average from .211 to .254.