(UPDATED) The Mets hope to avoid dropping their third consecutive interleague series today when Mike Pelfrey faces the Rays in the rubber match at Citi Field. The Mets have lost back-to-back interleague series with the Orioles and Yankees and are coming off a rain-soaked, 3-1 loss to Tampa Bay on Saturday.

Pelfrey has four no-decisions and just one victory in his past seven starts, despite dropping his ERA by a full run to 4.56 in that span. On the plus side, the big right-hander is 1-0 with a 2.60 ERA in his past four starts at home.

Pelfrey, who has never faced the Rays, will square off against Jeff Niemann. A righty in his second season in the majors. Niemann has won four of his past five decisions after a rough start.

Here is the 34-32 Mets’ order for the 1:10 p.m. game:

Alex Cora 2B

Daniel Murphy 1B

Carlos Beltran CF

David Wright 3B

Gary Sheffield LF

Ryan Church RF

Brian Schneider C

Wilson Valdez SS

Mike Pelfrey RHP (5-2, 4.56)

Pelfrey’s numbers against the Rays’ hitters

The 36-34 Rays will counter with:

B.J. Upton CF

Carl Crawford LF

Evan Longoria 3B

Carlos Pena 1B

Ben Zobrist 2B

Gabe Gross RF

Jason Bartlett 6

Dioner Navarro C

Jeff Niemann RHP (6-4, 4.21)