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Division-leading Mets open crucial homestand vs. Astros

Sep 7, 2007 - 1:59 PM Houston (62-78) at NY Mets (78-61) 7:10 pm EDT

FLUSHING, New York (Ticker) - The New York Mets are well rested and ready for a critical homestand that will go a long way in deciding the National League East pennant race.

New York opens a nine-game homestand against the Houston Astros on Friday as they look to move closer to winning their second straight division crown.

The Mets had their season-high, five-game winning streak snapped on Wednesday in Cincinnati, but rested four starters in the process. Jose Reyes, Paul Lo Duca, Moises Alou and Shawn Green all got the day off.

Following the series with the Astros, the Mets host the Phillies and Braves and have a good opportunity to take complete control of the division. The Mets lead the Phillies (73-66) by five games, while the Braves (71-69) are 7 1/2 games back.

Rookie Mike Pelfrey (1-7, 5.43 ERA) gets the ball for the Mets looking to build upon a solid performance in which he picked up his first win of the season.

Pelfrey was nearly bumped out of the rotation when Pedro Martinez returned, but has been given new life because Orlando Hernandez has a foot injury. On Saturday, the righthander allowed just one run and a hit with seven strikeouts in six innings of a 5-1 win over Atlanta.

Wandy Rodriguez (8-12, 4.49) takes the hill for Houston, which has lost six of nine and allowed five home runs in a 14-2 loss to Milwaukee on Wednesday.

Rodriguez is coming off six scoreless innings in a 6-1 win at the Chicago Cubs last Friday, but has just one win in his last seven starts.