Detroit @ New York preview

Last Meeting ( Jun 23, 2010 ) Detroit 0, NY Mets 5

The New York Mets have had their share of unlikely heroes this season.

Rookie first baseman Ike Davis and center fielder Angel Pagan buoyed the offense, and the Mets' piecemeal starting rotation helped New York endure injuries and ineffectiveness to stay in the thick of the NL East race.

Now the big-name stars are starting to carry their part of the load.

The Mets have won 12 of 13 at home and 14 of 17 overall going into Thursday's series finale against the Detroit Tigers, and the resurgence of stars Jose Reyes and David Wright has played a big role in New York's recent success.

Reyes scuffled through the first two months of the season, but he has been on a tear for the past couple of weeks. In his last 14 games, the Mets' leadoff man is 27-for-62 (.435) with five homers and nine RBIs, and he has scored 18 runs in that span.

Wright's average dropped all the way to .244 after a May slump, but in 21 games since May 30, the slugging third baseman is 32-for-81 (.395) with four homers and 23 RBIs. He has his average back up to .292 and leads the National League with 56 RBIs.

The Mets are still waiting for left fielder Jason Bay to come around and join his resurgent star teammates. Bay has hit only four home runs all season, and just one in 24 games since May 25.

In the meantime, though, the Mets continue to get big-time contributions from lesser-known players.

One of those surprise contributors has been Hisanori Takahashi, who takes the mound Thursday in search of his third consecutive victory. A 35-year-old rookie from Japan, Takahashi (6-2, 3.13 ERA) has been a solid addition to the Mets' starting rotation. In six starts, he is 3-1 with a 3.15 ERA.

The left-hander has been even better in his last two starts, allowing one run over 13 innings in consecutive victories. He shut out the Yankees for six innings Friday, giving up four hits and two walks.

The Tigers counter with 28-year-old right-hander Armando Galarraga, who has been quiet since his brush with history three weeks ago.

Galarraga (2-1, 3.32 ERA) hasn't factored in the decision in any of his three starts since his controversial one-hitter against the Indians on June 2, but the Tigers have won all three of those games. He wasn't sharp his last time out, allowing four runs on seven hits in 4 1/3 innings against Arizona.

The Tigers had won eight of nine entering the series, but in dropping the first two games in New York they now have lost 10 of their last 13 road games.

Rookie outfielder Brennan Boesch went 0-for-3 on Wednesday, but he is 25-for-68 (.368) with seven homers and 17 RBIs in his last 18 games.

Fellow outfielder Magglio Ordonez had his 10-game hitting streak snapped in Tuesday's series opener, but he went 1-for-4 on Wednesday. Ordonez is 20-for-51 (.392) with two homers and 13 RBIs in his last 12 games.