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May 18, 2009 - 4:30 AM By NICOLINO DIBENEDETTO STATS Writer

New York (21-15) at Los Angeles (25-13), 10:10 p.m. EDT

Juan Pierre is certainly doing his part in helping the NL West-leading Los Angeles Dodgers cope with the loss of Manny Ramirez

The Dodgers now hope Pierre can help them win for the fifth time in six games Monday night when they host the East-leading New York Mets in the opener of a three-game set.

Pierre is 20 for 43 (.465) with seven doubles, nine RBIs, 11 runs and six steals in the 10 games since Ramirez was issued a 50-game suspension for being found in violation of baseball's drug program.

Ramirez, who signed a two-year, $45 million contract in March, was hitting .348 with six homers and 20 RBIs prior to the ban.

With that big bat out, Pierre has increased his average 64 points to .419 after hitting .283 in 119 games last season. He played only 11 games - five starts - prior to being inserted for Ramirez.

"It's God's work," Pierre told the Dodgers' official Web site. "Anything is possible. I'm just staying ready. If I play once in five weeks or every day, mentally I'm ready to play whenever I get in there and I don't concentrate on when or how many or all the little stuff that you usually worry about."

The Dodgers (26-13), owners of the majors' best record, lost four of their first five games without Ramirez, but have since won four of five.

Pierre, who was a key part of Florida's World Series title in 2003, is 10 for 22 in the last five games. He had three hits - two doubles - and three RBIs to power Sunday's 12-5 win at Florida.

Pierre has a .329 batting average with 12 stolen bases in his last 21 games against the Mets (21-16).

Los Angeles lost four of seven meetings with New York last season, but won two of three at Dodger Stadium from May 5-7, 2008.

The Dodgers will turn to Randy Wolf (2-1, 2.77 ERA), who is 5-0 with a 3.60 ERA in his last seven starts against the Mets.

The left-hander has only recorded one win despite being impressive over his last four starts, posting a 1.16 ERA.

Wolf was solid again Wednesday, allowing one run and three hits with eight strikeouts in six innings of a 9-2 win at Philadelphia. However, he threw a season-high 113 pitches.

"I didn't think I was very efficient," Wolf said after getting his first win in six starts.

New York is coming off their third loss in 14 games, losing 2-0 at San Francisco on Sunday and failing to complete a sweep of the four-game series.

The Mets may have shortstop Jose Reyes back after Alex Cora left Sunday's loss with a sprained right thumb after sliding into second base on his first-inning double. Reyes was out of the lineup for the entire series against the Giants due to a right calf stiffness. The shortstop is 12 for 27 with six RBIs in his last seven games, including a strikeout as a pinch-hitter in Friday's 8-6 win at San Francisco.

The Mets will give Tim Redding his first start of the season as he returns from right shoulder fatigue.

The right-hander signed a one-year, free-agent contract in January after going 10-11 with a 4.95 ERA with Washington. However, he was tagged for 16 runs and 19 hits, including four homers, in 11 2-3 innings while losing his last three starts.

Redding was solid in two rehabilitation starts with Triple-A Buffalo, allowing four runs and 13 hits in 13 innings while not getting a decision.

He's 1-3 with a 5.64 ERA in four starts and six lifetime appearances against the Dodgers.