New York @ Colorado preview

Last Meeting ( Apr 14, 2010 ) NY Mets 5, Colorado 6

The New York Mets (2-6) have lost four straight games and are off to their worst start since 1992. They look to salvage one game in Denver on Thursday afternoon against the Colorado Rockies (5-3), who have won three straight games. The Mets will look to Mike Pelfrey to stop the slide. The right-hander, who had a poor 2009 season, started off the 2010 campaign in fine fashion by defeating the Washington Nationals last week. Pelfrey, who is the last Mets pitcher to win a game, surrendered just two runs and four hits in six innings. Pelfrey has always been a hard thrower, relying on his power sinker, but has added a cut fastball and a split finger to his artillery. Pelfrey owns a 3-2 career record against the Rockies with a 4.00 ERA. His mound counterpart Thursday is one of the rising stars in the National League. Jorge De La Rosa was 16-9 last year for the Rockies and the left-hander’s first start of the 2010 campaign was downright brilliant. De La Rosa defeated the San Diego Padres in the Rockies’ home opener last week. He allowed just one hit in seven innings and struck out nine. De La Rosa has also pitched well in his career against the Mets, posting a 3-0 record with a 3.71 ERA against New York. Todd Helton has enjoyed the most success of the Rockies against Pelfrey, owning an .857 career batting average with a home run and five RBIs against the tall righty. Carlos Gonzalez has also taken Pelfrey deep previously, but it is not known whether Gonzalez’ balky hamstring will allow him to play Thursday. The only Met to have had any success against De La Rosa in the past is Fernando Tatis, who hits .333 with a home run and two RBIs against the flame-throwing lefty. Mets stalwarts Jason Bay and Jose Reyes have never collected a single hit against De La Rosa. The Rockies captured Wednesday night’s game by virtue of Chris Iannetta’s 10th-inning walk-off home run, giving the Rockies a 6-5 win. Since Jim Tracy took over as the Rockies’ manager last year, the team has posted a 48-18 record at home. Only the New York Yankees have owned a better home record during that time span. The Mets and Rockies will join the rest of MLB Thursday in participating in Jackie Robinson Day, with all players and coaches donning uniform No. 42, in honor of the former Brooklyn Dodger great who broke the color barrier 63 years ago Thursday.