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Mets-Braves Preview

May 5, 2009 - 4:46 AM By JUSTIN EINHORN STATS Senior Editor

New York (10-13) at Atlanta (11-13), 7:10 p.m. EDT

Carlos Beltran is in the midst of one of the best stretches of his career, but maybe now he's really getting hot.

Coming off his 26th multihomer game, Beltran looks to notch his longest hitting streak in the majors Tuesday night and lift the visiting New York Mets to a two-game sweep of the Atlanta Braves.

Beltran has tied a career high with a hit in 15 consecutive games, but had only one hit in five straight before getting two Saturday at Philadelphia. After a day off due to a rainout, Beltran ended an eight-game home run drought with a pair of two-run shots Monday in a 6-4 win over Atlanta.

He doubled his home run total for the season - he's had 101 in the previous three years combined - and got his first RBI in seven games.

It was a continuation of his success at Turner Field, where he's hit .345 with 12 homers and 32 RBIs in 37 games. He helped New York (11-13) win its first game there this season after going 1-8 at Atlanta last year.

Beltran leads the NL with a .400 average after homering twice to center Monday, something Mets manager Jerry Manuel appreciated because he feels Beltran is at his best when being more than a pull hitter.

"He can be very, very dangerous to hit the ball to center field, left field," Manuel said. "It's a very, very good sign for him."

He may have been helped by Carlos Delgado being back in the cleanup spot, one spot behind him. Delgado started for the first time in six games after being bothered by a sore hip, going 1-for-4 and scoring on David Wright's first homer since April 13.

A win Tuesday would be the sixth in 10 games for the Mets following a 4-9 stretch.

Livan Hernandez (1-1, 6.75 ERA) gets the ball and looks to finish strong for a change. Through the third inning in his first four starts, he's allowed one run. In his other 9 1-3 innings, Hernandez has given up 15.

He held Florida scoreless for three innings and had a chance to win after giving up three runs and three hits in 5 1-3 innings last Tuesday, but the Mets bullpen blew a lead in the 7-4 loss. Hernandez gave up 11 runs and 16 hits in his previous two starts.

No opponent has given Hernandez more trouble than the Braves (11-14). He's 3-15 against them - his most losses versus any opponent - with a 5.52 ERA that's his highest against any NL team.

Atlanta counters with Kenshin Kawakami (1-3, 7.05), whose success in Japan has not translated to the majors after he signed a three-year, $23 million contract in January.

The Braves hope some extra time off to rest a tired shoulder will help. Scheduled to pitch Saturday before his start was pushed back, Kawakami is coming off his worst big league outing as he allowed eight runs in 4 2-3 innings of an 8-2 loss at Cincinnati on April 26.

"I might be thinking about my control too much," Kawakami told the Braves' official Web site.

Kawakami has walked 11 in 21 2-3 innings and has given up at least one homer in each of his four starts.

The Braves have lost three straight and eight of 10 at home.

Leadoff man Kelly Johnson continues to struggle, going 0-for-4 Monday and hitting .128 (6-for-47) in his last 14 games.

Chipper Jones, who homered Monday and is a .329 hitter against the Mets, has batted .386 (22-for-57) versus Hernandez.