New York @ Miami preview

Last Meeting ( Oct 2, 2012 ) NY Mets 3, Miami 4

Miami started its season in front of a sellout crowd, christening Marlins Park with a loss to the defending champion St. Louis Cardinals. That defeat set the tone for a disappointing season for Miami, a team that spent big in the offseason but reaches the final day of the season with 92 losses and firm possession of the National League East cellar. New York was expected by many to occupy last place but sat six games above .500 at the All-Star break before a second-half skid.

New York third baseman David Wright has played well throughout the season, and at .307 will finish above .300 for the first time since 2009. Jose Reyes, Wright’s former New York teammate who left the Big Apple to join the Marlins last offseason, recovered from a .220 April. He had three hits Tuesday and comes into the season finale hitting .287 with 39 stolen bases.

TV: 4:10 p.m. ET, SNY (New York), Fox Sports Florida (Miami)

PITCHING MATCHUP: New York RH Jeremy Hefner (3-7, 5.32 ERA) vs. Miami RH Tom Koehler (0-0, 5.40)

Hefner makes his second start and third appearance overall against the Marlins this season. He has no record and a 2.57 ERA. After allowing seven runs and not retiring a batter against Philadelphia on Sept. 20, the right-hander rebounded with seven shutout innings in beating the Pirates on Sept. 26.

Koehler, a rookie, gets his first major-league start after Wednesday’s schedule starter, Chad Gaudin, had to pitch the 11th inning of Tuesday’s victory. Koehler has 10 strikeouts and just two walks in 8 1/3 innings, but has allowed five runs on nine hits. He has pitched twice against the Mets, allowing one run on four hits in 1 2/3 innings.

WALK-OFFS

1. New York OF Scott Hairston snapped a 4-for-30 skid with four hits Tuesday.

2. Miami P Heath Bell, who has struggled mightily in his first season with the Marlins, allowed two hits and a run in the eighth inning Tuesday.

3. The Mets lead the season series 11-6.