New York @ Miami preview
Marlins Park
Last Meeting ( Jul 29, 2013 ) NY Mets 6, Miami 5
The New York Mets hope they're out of the offensive funk that led to a recent three-game losing streak and they'll find out when they continue a four-game road series with the Miami Marlins on Tuesday. The Mets scored only one run in each game during their skid before breaking out in a 6-5 victory Monday. Miami had won the previous five meetings and holds an 8-4 series edge this season.
Miami is still mired in the National League East cellar, but the Marlins have played better lately and are trying for their third straight series win. The Mets haven't been out of fourth place in the division since May 5, but are within one game of the foundering Phillies. Despite being out of contention, neither team appears poised to do much ahead of Wednesday's non-waiver trading deadline.
TV: 7:10 p.m. ET, SNY (New York), FSN Florida (Miami)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Mets RH Zack Wheeler (4-1, 3.72 ERA) vs. Marlins RH Nathan Eovaldi (2-1, 3.54)
Wheeler continues to battle control issues - he has walked at least two in each of his seven big-league starts and issued 20 free passes in 38 2/3 innings - but he hasn't lost since June 30. The 23-year-old won his third straight decision Thursday versus Atlanta, allowing four runs (three earned) over six innings. Wheeler has never faced Miami.
Eovaldi is coming off one of his best outings of the year as he pitched six scoreless frames Thursday at Colorado, but didn't factor in the decision after a rain delay cut his night short. The 23-year-old Texas native is making only his third home start of the season and has recorded quality starts in the first two. Eovaldi is 1-2 with a 3.74 ERA in four starts against the Mets.
WALK-OFFS
1. Miami's starting pitchers have allowed three or fewer runs in 32 of the past 37 games.
2. Mets 1B Ike Davis, who drove in the winning run Monday but is hitting .178, is 3-for-8 with two homers versus Eovaldi.
3. New York 2B Daniel Murphy is hitting .365 over his past 20 games and has hit safely in 18 of those contests.
PREDICTION: Mets 5, Marlins 3