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Mets and Marlins meet in Miami

Jul 22, 2011 - 2:41 PM (Sports Network) - The New York Mets should have third baseman David Wright back in the lineup this evening when they open a three-game series against the Florida Marlins at Sun Life Stadium.

Wright hasn't played since May 15 because of a stress fracture in his lower back. He had been hitting just .226 at the time of the injury, but was 10- for-21 in a six-game rehabilitation stint for Single-A St. Lucie.

"I talked to David the other night, I told him when he walks in the clubhouse, his presence will be felt, no doubt about it," Mets manager Terry Collins said. "To have an All-Star caliber player return to your club is going to be a big lift, and I think you'll see our team respond to it."

The Mets should also have outfielder Jason Bay tonight. Bay, who is hitting .232 with six homers and 29 RBI, has missed a week with a tight hamstring.

New York heads to Florida tonight after taking two of three from the St. Louis Cardinals. The Mets, though, were denied a sweep in Thursday's finale, falling 6-2 at Citi Field.

Jon Niese (9-8) gave up five runs -- three earned -- on five hits in six innings to absorb the loss, the sixth in the last nine games for the Mets.

Tonight, the Mets turn to righty Mike Pelfrey, who has lost four of his past five starts. Pelfrey absorbed the loss to the Philadelphia Phillies on Sunday, as he allowed four runs and six hit sin fie innings to fall to 5-9 on the year to go along with a 4.67 ERA.

Pelfrey has not done well against the Marlins over the course of his career, going just 1-7 with a 5.24 ERA in 14 starts.

Florida, meanwhile, enters this series licking its wounds after getting outscored 23-6 in a three-game sweep by the San Diego Padres. The Marlins had won nine of 10 coming into that set.

Omar Infante hit a two-run triple in Thursday's 5-3 loss, while Emilio Bonifacio contributed an RBI single to extend his hit streak to a career-high 20 games.

Javier Vazquez (6-9) was touched in defeat for eight hits and five runs over 4 1/3 frames.

Hoping to get Florida back on track tonight will be righty Chris Volstad, who is 5-8 on the year with a 5.59 ERA. Volstad was awful on Sunday in Chicago, as the Cubs battered him for four runs and six hits in just three innings. However, he did not get a decision in his team's 7-5 win.

Over his last three starts Volstad has allowed 14 runs and 22 hits in 13 innings.

In five starts against the Mets Volstad is 1-2 with a 3.18 ERA.

The Marlins have won three of their five matchups with the Mets this season.