• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers

Mets-Giants Preview

Jul 16, 2010 - 6:37 AM By NICOLINO DIBENEDETTO STATS Writer

New York (48-41) at San Francisco (48-41), 10:35 p.m. EDT

The San Francisco Giants picked up where they left off before the All-Star break. That may only continue against the struggling New York Mets.

The Giants look for their eighth win in nine games Friday night when they continue their four-game home series against the ailing Mets.

Following a season-high seven-game slide, San Francisco (48-41) won seven of nine entering the All-Star break. The Giants returned from the layoff Thursday with a 2-0 win over New York (48-41) behind ace Tim Lincecum's six-hitter.

San Francisco is fourth in the NL West, but only 3 1/2 games behind first-place San Diego.

The Mets appear to be heading in the opposite direction. They're five games behind East-leading Atlanta after starting their season-high 11-game road trip Thursday by getting six hits - all singles. New York has dropped four of its last five, totaling three runs in the four defeats.

The Mets' lineup could get a lift if Jose Reyes can return.

A late scratch Thursday due to lingering pain in his side, Reyes is having a hard time overcoming an injury he suffered during batting practice June 30, and has sidelined him for seven of 11 games plus Tuesday's All-Star game.

"I still feel something there," said Reyes, hitting .350 with five homers, 15 RBIs and 22 runs in his last 24 contests. "It's getting better, but slow. The doctors say they don't want to take a chance. They say when you're pain free you can get back on the field."

If Reyes is able to play Friday, it would be the first time New York has had both its regular shortstop and Carlos Beltran in the lineup together since May 20, 2009, due to a series of injuries to both. Beltran was 1 for 4 Thursday in his season debut following right knee surgery.

Giants starter Barry Zito (7-4, 3.76 ERA) has won just once in his last 10 starts, but taking the mound at AT&T Park on Friday could help him get back on track.

The left-hander is 1-3 with a 5.19 ERA in his last 10 outings, but 1-0 with a 2.73 ERA in four home games during that stretch.

On the season, Zito is 5-1 with a 2.83 ERA in nine games in San Francisco.

However, he's 0-2 with a 6.28 ERA in his last three starts versus the Mets - all Giants losses.

Reyes is 1 for 11 lifetime against Zito, while Beltran has fared slightly better at 8 for 38 against the southpaw.

Seeking to rebound from his first loss in seven starts, Jonathon Niese (6-3, 3.61) will face San Francisco for the first time.

The left-hander didn't get much support in his most recent outing July 7, allowing three runs with eight strikeouts in 7 2-3 innings of a 3-1 loss to Cincinnati. He had been 5-0 with a 2.43 ERA over his six previous starts - all Mets wins - while the lineup scored an average of 8.6 runs for him.