Miami @ New York preview

Last Meeting ( Sep 13, 2018 ) Miami 2, NY Mets 5

Despite going hitless in his last game, Michael Conforto has enjoyed one of the finest Septembers in the history of the New York Mets. The 2017 All-Star hopes to take another few steps toward a team record Friday when the Mets host the Miami Marlins in the opener of a three-game set between National League East rivals.

Conforto finished 0-for-2 with a pair of walks as New York rolled to a 4-1 win Thursday in the rubber match of its three-game series with division champion Atlanta to improve to 16-9 in September. That success is due in no small part to the offensive contributions of the 25-year-old Seattle native, who has 29 RBIs this month - five shy of club mark for September set by Hall of Famer Gary Carter in 1984. The Marlins (62-96) are wrapping up their ninth consecutive losing season and have dropped eight of their last nine road contests. The first three of those setbacks came when they were outscored 22-5 in New York just over two weeks ago and the last three came earlier this week when they were swept in Washington, giving up at least seven runs in each contest.

TV: 7:10 p.m. ET, FS Florida (Miami), SNY (New York)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Marlins RH Jose Urena (8-12, 4.07 ERA) vs. Mets RH Corey Oswalt (3-3, 6.08)

Urena is unbeaten in his last seven starts and won each of his four in September in dominant fashion, lowering his ERA for the month to 1.13 on Saturday when he blanked Cincinnati over 5 2/3 innings. One of those recent outings was a road victory versus the Mets on Sept. 11, holding them to one run over 6 1/3 frames. Urena, who will reach nine wins for a second straight season with a victory Friday despite beginning the year 3-12, is 1-2 with a 4.32 ERA in three starts against the Mets this season.

Oswalt took his first loss since July 9 in Washington on Saturday, giving up two runs on four hits over five innings. The 25-year-old San Diego native has proven to be much more comfortable as a starter 16 games into his big-league career, going 2-3 with a 4.91 ERA in 11 turns versus 1-0, 12.54 in five relief appearances. J.T. Realmuto and Starlin Castro each have two hits in five career at-bats versus Oswalt, who has been tagged for nine runs in 8 2/3 frames while going 0-1 against Miami in 2018.

WALK-OFFS

1. Mets OF Brandon Nimmo is only 1-for-13 over his last six games, but he has drawn 10 walks over that span - including nine in the last four contests.

2. Miami OF Brian Anderson has 159 hits this season, the most by a Marlin rookie since Chris Coghlan in 2009 (162)

3. New York starting pitchers are 10-4 with a major league-best 2.68 ERA this month.

PREDICTION: Marlins 4, Mets 2