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Mets-Orioles Preview

Jun 12, 2010 - 4:00 AM By ANTHONY GIORNALISTA STATS Senior Writer

New York (32-28) at Baltimore (17-43), 7:05 p.m. EDT

The New York Mets will take a road series win any way they can get one, even if it's against the lowly Baltimore Orioles.

The Mets look to win a series away from Citi Field for the first time this year as they face the Orioles on Saturday night.

A 5-1 win Friday night in the opener of this three-game set improved New York's road record to 9-18. It put the Mets in position to capture a road series for the first time since taking two of three games at Florida from Sept. 25-27.

New York (33-28) also has a chance to win two straight on the road for the first time since July 25-26 at Houston. The Mets appear to have a strong opportunity to capitalize against the Orioles, who have lost 13 of 15 and own the worst record in the majors (17-44).

New York has won six of seven overall following yet another strong pitching performance. The Mets have a 2.22 ERA over their last seven games, limiting opponents to two homers.

The worst performance by a starter in that span came from Hisanori Takahashi (4-2, 3.80 ERA), who takes the mound Saturday. He is 0-1 with a 10.61 ERA in his last two outings after not allowing a run en route to going 1-0 in his previous two starts.

The left-hander gave up five runs in 5 1-3 innings before New York came back to beat Florida 7-6 on Sunday.

This is Takahashi's first start against the Orioles.

Baltimore will give the ball to Brian Matusz (2-6, 5.10), who has lost six straight decisions. Matusz, though, has been sharp over his last two outings, going 0-1 despite a 2.19 ERA.

The left-hander allowed two runs and struck out seven in 5 2-3 innings as Baltimore beat Boston 4-3 in 11 innings Sunday. The Orioles lost Matusz's previous eight starts.

Matusz has never faced the Mets.

He'll be going against a New York team getting improved hitting from Jose Reyes and David Wright.

Reyes is batting .360 with two homers, two triples, 10 RBIs and seven stolen bases in his last 18 contests. Over the past 11 games, Wright is batting .462 with two homers and nine RBIs, raising his average from .244 to .284.

Wright, who has nine RBIs in seven games versus the Orioles, is a candidate to be the designated hitter - something he's done just twice - after Chris Carter drew the assignment Friday.

"I will ask David ... see how he feels," manager Jerry Manuel told the Mets' official website. "If he feels he could use a day as a DH, then he'll DH. If he feels like he'd like to play third and he feels better at third base and as a hitter ... (Fernando) Tatis can DH."

Baltimore is coming off yet another disappointing game at the plate, going 3 for 17 with runners in scoring position and striking out a season-high 12 times.

"We got some hits; we did not get the big ones," interim manager Juan Samuel said.

Right fielder Nick Markakis was one of the few bright spots for the Orioles, going 2 for 3. Markakis is 7 for 17 (.412) over his past four contests.

Markakis, a native of Glen Cove, N.Y., is hitting .480 (12 for 25) against the Mets.