Miami @ New York preview

Last Meeting ( Sep 12, 2018 ) Miami 0, NY Mets 0

Mother Nature prevented the Miami Marlins and New York Mets from playing their scheduled doubleheader on Wednesday, with a 5-hour, 35-minute rain delay limiting the struggling National League East clubs to just one game in front of a sparse crowd. The Marlins (57-87) and Mets (66-78) will attempt to squeeze in a single-admission doubleheader on Thursday when they reconvene at Citi Field in New York.

Jay Bruce belted a grand slam and Dominic Smith also went deep to highlight a seven-run sixth inning as New York posted its seventh win in 10 outings this month with a 13-0 romp over Miami on Wednesday. Jeff McNeil recorded his third three-hit performance in four games for the Mets and is 12-for-27 with six runs scored during his last six outings overall. Miami's Derek Dietrich had one of his team's five hits to improve to 14-for-46 versus New York this season while scoring 10 runs. Dietrich has limited experience against Steven Matz and none versus fellow left-hander Jason Vargas, who are expected to pitch in the doubleheader for the Mets opposite right-handers Jeff Brigham and Sandy Alcantara - although neither team has confirmed the order of the pitchers on Thursday.

TV: 3:10 p.m. ET, FS Florida, SNY (New York)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Marlins RH Jeff Brigham (0-1, 9.00 ERA) vs. Mets LH Jason Vargas (5-9, 6.75)

Brigham is patiently biding his time to make his second career start after Mother Nature forced rainouts on back-to-back starts. The 26-year-old allowed three runs, four hits and four walks while striking out two in three innings of a 6-1 loss to Toronto on Sept. 2. Brigham posted a 10-3 mark with a 2.36 ERA in 17 starts over three minor-league levels this season, including 5-2 with a 3.44 in nine turns with Triple-A New Orleans.

Vargas answered a three-start winning streak by getting shredded for five runs on six hits over 3 1/3 innings of an 11-4 setback at the Los Angeles Dodgers on Sept. 4. The 35-year-old allowed two homers in that contest after being taken deep twice in his previous six trips to the mound. Vargas fared significantly better in his previous outing against Miami, scattering two hits and striking out seven across five innings in a 2-0 win on May 21.

WALK-OFFS

1. Miami has seen three games postponed in the last week due to poor weather conditions.

2. New York OF Michael Conforto is 7-for-18 with three homers, six RBIs and five runs scored in his last four contests.

3. Marlins 3B-OF Brian Anderson is 3-for-7 with two runs scored in this series after going 1-for-19 in his previous six games.

PREDICTION: Marlins 3, Mets 2