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Reeling Mets look to rebound, climb out of tie with Phillies

Sep 28, 2007 - 1:40 PM Florida (69-90) at NY Mets (87-72) 7:10 pm EDT

FLUSHING, New York (Ticker) -- The New York Mets have company atop the National League East Division for the first time since May 16.

The free-falling Mets look to snap a four-game skid and maintain at least a share of the division lead Friday when they host the Florida Marlins in the opener of a critical three-game series.

The Mets have lost 11 of their last 16 games to watch their once-commanding lead in the NL East disappear.

New York owned a seemingly comfortable seven-game lead over the Philadelphia Phillies (87-72) as recently as September 13. No team has ever not finished in first place after having at least a seven-game advantage with 17 games to play.

The Mets have watched their pitching evaporate over the past 16 games, as the staff has allowed an average of 7.25 runs per game in that span.

New York will turn to lefthander Oliver Perez (15-9, 3.32 ERA) to stop the bleeding. Perez turned in the team's best pitching performance during their current slide, allowing two runs - one earned - over eight innings to pick up a win last Saturday at Florida.

Perez is 3-0 in four September starts, allowing 14 runs - but only eight earned. New York's defense has committed nine errors in Perez's outings this month.

The Marlins will counter with Byung-Hyun Kim (9-8, 6.11), who has lost his last two starts. The Korean righthander made his only appearance this season vs. the Mets last Saturday, allowing five runs - four earned - in five innings of a 7-2 loss.

Florida lost three of four games to the Mets last weekend at home and is just 5-10 this season against New York.