Mets at Marlins
The New York Mets own the best record in the National League and look to extend their winning streak to six contests when they open a three-game series against the host Miami Marlins on Monday. The Mets improved to 7-1 when Yoenis Cespedes knocked in the go-ahead run in the 12th inning on Sunday to help the team complete a three-game sweep at Washington with a 6-5 victory.
Asdrubal Cabrera will take a seven-game hitting streak into the series while Jay Bruce has hit safely in his last six contests for New York, which started 7-3 last season before finishing fourth in the National League East. Noah Syndergaard takes the mound for the Mets on Monday to face Jose Urena in a battle of Opening Day starters taking their third turn of the campaign. The Marlins, who begin a six-game homestand on Monday, snapped a four-game losing streak and rebounded from an embarrassing 20-1 loss with Sunday's 6-3 triumph in which they scored three late runs to snap a tie. Rookie Brian Anderson delivered a go-ahead, two-run double in the victory and leads the team with eight RBIs while hitting safely in eight of nine games.
TV: 7:10 p.m. ET, SNY (New York), FS Florida
PITCHING MATCHUP: Mets RH Noah Syndergaard (1-0, 5.40 ERA) vs. Marlins RH Jose Urena (0-1, 4.91)
Syndergaard was limited to four innings due to a high pitch count (92) last time out against Philadelphia, allowing two runs on four hits and a pair of walks after winning his season debut. The 25-year-old Texan gave up four runs but struck out 10 in six frames to beat St. Louis on Opening Day. Miguel Rojas is 3-for-4 lifetime against Syndergaard, who made two of his seven starts last season versus Miami - going 1-0 while yielding two earned runs and recording 13 strikeouts over 13 innings.
Urena pitched much better in his second start of the season against Boston on Tuesday, giving up one run and four hits with seven strikeouts in seven innings of a no-decision. The 26-year-old Dominican struggled during his turn on March 29, when he surrendered five runs on six hits and four walks in four frames against the Chicago Cubs. Bruce is 4-for-13 with a pair of homers versus Urena, who went 2-1 with a 2.25 ERA in five games (three starts) against the Mets last year.
WALK-OFFS
1. New York RHP Jeurys Familia has allowed two hits while striking out six over six scoreless innings in his first five outings, notching three saves along the way.
2. Miami CF Lewis Brinson, the key acquisition from Milwaukee in the trade involving Christian Yelich, is 0-for-16 with eight strikeouts in his last four games.
3. The Marlins won 12 of their 19 meetings with the Mets last season, including each of the last four.