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Marlins-Mets Preview

Jun 5, 2010 - 4:31 AM By ANTHONY GIORNALISTA STATS Senior Writer

Florida (28-27) at New York (27-27), 4:10 p.m. EDT

Even against the Florida Marlins, the New York Mets continue to find ways to win at home.

After snapping a six-game losing streak against their NL East rivals, the Mets look to win their seventh straight at Citi Field as they continue this three-game series Saturday.

A 2-4 road trip ended New York's momentum, but it quickly got back on track in the opener of a six-game homestand with a 4-3 win Friday night. The Mets (28-27) had lost six straight to the Marlins (28-28), a skid that included two defeats at home.

New York, though, has won 16 of 20 at Citi Field to improve to 20-9 there, leading the majors in wins at home.

"The way we play right now, we just feel so confident to win at home. I don't know what it is," right fielder Jeff Francoeur said.

The Mets have a 1.67 ERA during their winning streak at Citi Field, and haven't surrendered a home run in their last seven contests there.

"This is a good park to pitch in, I know that. It's just a comfortable place to pitch," said Mets starter R.A. Dickey, who earned a win against the Marlins. "You can kind of challenge guys."

Set to come off the disabled list, Jonathon Niese (1-2, 4.79 ERA) will try to continue New York's strong pitching run. Niese is expected to make his first start since suffering a strained right hamstring May 16 while fielding a bunt in the third inning of loss to the Marlins.

The left-hander underwent surgery to repair a tear in that same hamstring Aug. 6, and missed the final two months of last season. Niese has posted a 5.63 ERA in losing each of his two starts against the Marlins.

Niese's return far from solves New York's injury problems. The Mets placed second baseman Luis Castillo on the 15-day DL on Friday due to a bruised right heel.

Castillo is batting .241 with no homers and 14 RBIs.

New York recalled 20-year-old Ruben Tejada from Triple-A Buffalo to take Castillo's starting spot. Tejada made an immediate impact, delivering two hits and an RBI.

Francoeur continued his hot hitting for New York, going 2 for 4. The right fielder is 16 for 34 (.471) during a 10-game hitting streak.

The Mets now face Nate Robertson (4-4, 4.30), who did not receive a decision Monday after allowing four runs and eight hits in 5 1-3 innings of a 13-5 win over Milwaukee.

The left-hander beat the Mets in his first start of the year, surrendering one run in five innings as the Marlins won 3-1 on April 8. Robertson is 2-0 with a 2.45 ERA in three outings against New York.

Robertson is trying to help Florida rebound from its second loss in three games. The Marlins have lost four of five on the road, scoring three runs or fewer in each of the defeats.

Chris Coghlan, though, was once again a bright spot at the plate for the Marlins, delivering three hits for his fifth straight multihit game. Coghlan is 13 for 22 (.590) during that stretch, raising his average from .217 to .257.