The Miami Marlins have a chance to salvage a split of their four-game series with the visiting New York Mets on Thursday, but they'll have to defeat one of the league's most dominant pitchers to do it. The Mets will send Matt Harvey to the mound as they try to claim a series victory. Harvey, who ranks second in the National League in ERA behind Los Angeles Dodgers ace Clayton Kershaw, is 5-0 with a 2.23 ERA in nine road starts.
The Marlins held on for a 3-2 win Wednesday, adding another close game to a series that has been extremely competitive. Two of the contests have been decided by one run, and the other went to extra innings. Miami has won six of the past eight meetings and leads the season series 9-5.
TV: 12:40 p.m. ET, SNY (New York), FSN Florida (Miami)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Mets RH Matt Harvey (8-2, 2.11 ERA) vs. Marlins RH Tom Koehler (2-6, 4.67)
Harvey has picked up where he left off before starting the All-Star Game, tossing 15 innings without allowing an earned run over his first two outings of the second half. The 24-year-old phenom has fanned six or more in his last nine starts and has 164 strikeouts in 145 innings. Harvey has faced Miami three times this year and has a 3.12 ERA, but he didn't factor in the decision in any of those contests.
Koehler has put together his share of strong outings but hasn't been consistent. He was roughed up for five runs on nine hits over five innings in a loss to Pittsburgh last time out. The 27-year-old New York native has only two quality starts in eight outings over the past two months. Koehler has made two starts and three relief appearances against the Mets, going 0-1 with a 4.32 ERA.
WALK-OFFS
1. Marlins starting pitchers have allowed three or fewer earned runs in 34 of the past 39 games.
2. Miami RHP Steve Cishek should resume his closer duties Thursday, if needed. Cishek was unavailable Wednesday after pitching two innings Tuesday, so LHP Mike Dunn received the opportunity and picked up the save.
3. Mets 2B Daniel Murphy went 0-for-3 Wednesday, only the third time in 22 games he has gone without a hit. Murphy is 3-for-8 with a homer against Koehler.