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Marlins-Mets Preview

May 28, 2009 - 8:52 PM By SANTOSH VENKATARAMAN STATS Senior Writer

Florida (22-26) at New York (26-20), 7:10 p.m. EDT

Mike Pelfrey has given the New York Mets consistent pitching lately, but he's been unable to solve the Florida Marlins since his first start against them.

The Mets, who have lost Pelfrey's last seven starts versus the Marlins, try to end that streak Friday night in the opener of a three-game home series.

Pelfrey (4-1, 4.31 ERA) is winless in his last three starts but has pitched well in that span, going 0-1 with a 2.70 ERA. The Mets (26-20) have given him one run of support in that stretch.

New York is 6-2 in the right-hander's starts this season, and he's yielded three runs or fewer in each of his last six outings.

The Mets, though, haven't enjoyed that kind of success in Pelfrey's outings versus Florida (22-26). He beat the Marlins on July 8, 2006, but has since gone 0-5 with a 6.45 ERA against them.

Pelfrey failed to pitch past the fifth inning three times in five starts versus Florida last season, going 0-4 with a 7.11 ERA. Marlins slugger Dan Uggla went 5 for 12 against him in 2008.

Pelfrey turned in a solid effort Saturday at Boston, yielding two runs in seven innings of a 3-2 victory.

New York has a winning record against every team in its division except Florida. The Marlins have won four of six meetings, with Jorge Cantu going 8 for 19 with three homers and nine RBIs in those games.

Florida is unsure whether Hanley Ramirez will be available Friday. The All-Star shortstop sat out Wednesday's 6-2 win at Philadelphia with a tight right groin and is listed as day to day.

Both clubs had Thursday off, and the Mets were hopeful that the time off will help David Wright break out of a minor slump. Wright is 4 for his last 19 and had four strikeouts for the first time in his career in a 7-4 win over Washington on Wednesday.

"I'm not that concerned about him. In his defense, the day off is coming at a good time," manager Jerry Manuel told the Mets' official Web site. "He's the one player that has really played probably every inning so far this year. The day off is very timely for him."

New York has won three straight and five of six. That's due in part to Gary Sheffield, who's hit safely in six straight games and is batting .419 (18 for 43) with four homers and 14 RBIs in his last 13.

Sheffield and the Mets will get their first look at Florida's Sean West (0-0, 3.60), who will make his second major league start. West yielded two runs over five innings Saturday and did not get a decision in a 10-3 loss to Tampa Bay.

The 22-year-old left-hander, a first-round pick in 2005, is eager to make his first road start in New York.

"I've been told to expect some rude fans, and to ignore them and do my job," West told the Marlins' official Web site. "That's what they're expecting out of me and that's what I'm going to give them."