The resurgent Mets, who stand just a half-game back in the NL East standings, are trying to make it six in a row and seven out of eight this afternoon when they face the Pirates at Citi Field behind John Maine. Maine is coming off his best start of the season, six innings of one-run ball April 27 at home against the Marlins. He is 2-2 with a 2.93 ERA in five career games against the Pirates but hasn’t lost to them since Sept. 17, 2006.
Maine will be opposed by left-hander Paul Maholm, who has been the Pirates’ best pitcher this season. Maholm, one of the rare lefty starters the Mets have faced this season, is 3-1 with a 2.25 ERA in five career starts against the Amazin’s.
Here is the 15-13 Mets’ order for the 1:10 p.m. game:
Jose Reyes SS
Luis Castillo 2B
Carlos Beltran CF
Carlos Delgado 1B
David Wright 3B
Gary Sheffield RF
Fernando Tatis LF
Ramon Castro C
John Maine RHP (2-2, 5.20)
The 12-17 Pirates, losers of 10 of their past 11 games, will counter with:
Nyjer Morgan LF
Freddy Sanchez 2B
Nate McLouth CF
Adam LaRoche 1B
Brandon Moss RF
Andy LaRoche 3B
Ramon Vazquez SS
Jason Jaramillo C
Paul Maholm LHP (3-0, 2.97)
