(UPDATED) PITTSBURGH — After back-to-back painful losses here, the patchwork Mets are counting on Mike Pelfrey to turn the tide when he takes the mound tonight against the Pirates at PNC Park. Pelfrey has been outstanding in his past four starts, giving up just seven earned runs in a combined 27 2/3 innings over that span. That includes his best outing of the year last Friday against Florida at Citi Field, when he gave up just one run in 7 2/3 innings.
Pelfrey won his only career start against the Pirates, throwing seven scoreless innings here last Aug. 15 in a 2-1 Mets victory.
Pelfrey will square off against ex-Yankee Ross Ohlendorf, who is riding a personal two-game losing streak. Ohlendorf has faced the Mets twice, both times as a reliever with the Yankees in 2008, and is 0-0 with a 54.00 ERA.
Here is the 28-23 Mets’ order for the 7:05 p.m. game:
Alex Cora SS
Luis Castillo 2B
Daniel Murphy 1B
Gary Sheffield RF
David Wright 3B
Fernando Martinez LF
Omir Santos C
Jeremy Reed CF
Mike Pelfrey RHP (4-1, 3.88)
The 24-28 Pirates will counter with:
Nyjer Morgan LF
Freddy Sanchez 2B
Nate McLouth CF
Adam LaRoche 1B
Andy LaRoche 3B
Brandon Moss RF
Jason Jaramillo C
Jack Wilson SS
Ross Ohlendorf RHP (5-5, 4.45)
