Los Angeles @ New York preview

Last Meeting ( Jul 9, 2009 ) LA Dodgers 11, NY Mets 2

The New York Mets will send Oliver Perez to the hill for the second game of their doubleheader against the Los Angeles Dodgers on Tuesday.

Rain forced the postponement of Monday's contest - and the Citi Field faithful will get two for the price of one on Tuesday. New York will look to extend its winning streak to five games when it sends ace Johan Santana to mound in the first game against Los Angeles' Hiroki Kuroda.

As for Perez, the enigmatic left-hander will face a struggling Dodgers lineup. But as everyone knows, Perez' toughest opponent is always himself.

When he's on, he's as tough as any pitcher to hit. But when he's off, so are all bets.

Perez (0-2, 3.71 ERA) has made it out of the sixth inning in only one start this season and struggled in his last outing. He allowed three runs on eight hits in five innings in an eventual 9-3 loss to the Chicago Cubs on Wednesday.

The 28-year-old Perez has also struggled against the Dodgers in the past.Russell Martin is batting .455 in 11 career at-bats, and Matt Kemp is hitting .364 with a home run in 11 at-bats against Perez. Conversely, James Loney and Andre Ethier are a combined 1-for-14 off Perez.

Perez and his counterpart, Charlie Haeger (0-2, 6.46 ERA), are each looking for their first win of their season.

The 26-year-old Haeger has also struggled mightily this season. In his last outing, he allowed four runs and five hits in 5 1/3 innings in an eventual 5-1 loss to the Washington Nationals on Friday.

Haeger might find himself the beneficiary of the rainout because he'll face a tired Mets lineup in Game 2 that has never faced him before. Alex Cora and Luis Castillo are the only Mets with history against Haeger, and they only have three combined at-bats against him. Plus, Haeger will be matched up against the winless Perez, instead of the great Santana, who he would've gone head-to-head with had Monday night's game been played.