MIAMI MARLINS (1-3)

at NEW YORK METS (2-3)

First pitch: Monday, 7:00 p.m. ET
Line: Miami +140, New York -155, Total: 7.5

Steven Matz and the Mets kick off a three-game set again the division-rival Marlins at Citi Field.

The Mets (2-3) continue their six-game homestand against National League East opponents when they welcome the Marlins (1-3) into Queens on Monday for the first of three contests. Both clubs have gotten off to slow starts in 2016. After splitting a two-game series with the World Series-champion Royals at Kauffman Stadium, the Mets lost two of three to the lowly Phillies at Citi Field over the weekend. Miami dropped its first two games to the Tigers in Marlins Park before beating the Nationals in Washington, D.C. this past Thursday. After a rainout on Saturday, the Marlins lost to the Nats, 4-2, on Sunday. Making his season debut for the Amazin’s is LHP Steven Matz (4-0, 2.27 ERA, 34 SOs in six GS in 2015). He’ll be opposed by RHP Jarred Cosart (2-5, 4.52 ERA, 47 SO, 33 BB in 14 appearances in 2015), who’s also making his first start of this young season. The Mets went 11-8 against the Marlins last season.

The Marlins only have one victory, but they haven’t had trouble putting runs on the board. They’re batting .278 (fourth in NL) and are averaging 4.5 runs per game. They’ve struggled to get hitters out, however, posting a 5.59 ERA (11th in NL) through their first four games. 2B Dee Gordon (.421, 1 RBI, .450 OBP, 2 2Bs, 2 3Bs, 1 SB) has been the Marlins’ hottest hitter, and LF Christian Yelich (.364, 1 HR, 2 RBIs, .579 OBP, 1 2B) and 3B Martin Prado (.353, 2 RBIs, 1 3B) have also been stellar at the dish. RF Giancarlo Stanton (.294, 1 HR, 4 RBIs), the Marlins’ most dangerous hitter, is a good matchup against the left-handed Matz. No Marlins batter has more than three career at-bats against Matz. Cosart faced New York three times in 2015 and recorded three no-decisions, surrendering six earned runs in 18 innings pitched.

The Mets didn’t hit much in the season’s first week (.180 – last in NL, 14 runs – last in NL) but they pitched—as expected—brilliantly. The Amazin’s lead the National League in ERA (2.05) and earned runs allowed (10). Aside from CF Juan Lagares (.400), who only has five at-bats, LF Michael Conforto (.267, 3 RBIs, .421 OBP, 2 2Bs, 3 BBs) and 3B David Wright (.267, .421 OBP, 2 Rs, 2 2Bs, 4 BBs, 2 SBs) lead the club in average. LF Yoenis Cespedes (.200, 1 HR, 2 RBIs, 2 BBs) hit his first homer of the season on Sunday, but manager Terry Collins is still waiting for his cleanup hitter to get in a rhythm. Leadoff hitter Curtis Granderson (.050) is just 1-for-20 with six strikeouts to start the season. 3B Wilmer Flores (.000) might get the start—or at least an at-bat—against Cosart, as he’s 4-for-10 against him with a double, a home run and five RBIs. Cespedes has also homered off of Cosart. The Marlins’ starter is one of the last pitchers that the slumping Granderson wants to see right now, as the left-handed hitter is 0-for-11 against the 25-year-old with a pair of strikeouts. Matz faced the Marlins once in 2015—against Cosart, coincidentally, on September 6—and was solid, surrendering two earned runs on four hits in 5 1/3 innings pitched.