Marlins try to keep hot streak going vs. Mets

When the New York Mets visit the Miami Marlins on Friday night to start a three-game series, it will be a battle of two under-.500 teams sitting in the last two spots in the National League East standings.

But that's where the similarities end.

The Mets had the highest Opening Day payroll in baseball at $305.6 million, according to USA Today.

Miami had the fifth-lowest payroll at $97.2 million.

That makes the Mets a major disappointment so far, and New York enters play Friday having lost five of its past seven games.

Miami, meanwhile, enters the series on a high, having gone on the road and taken two of three games at Detroit. The Marlins shut out the Tigers in the final two games, holding Detroit scoreless for 19 consecutive innings.

"The pitchers have to execute," Marlins manager Skip Schumaker said, "but our pitching coaches did a great job game-planning."

On Friday, the Marlins will look for lefty Jesus Luzardo (0-3, 5.97 ERA) to execute. For his career, he is 2-2 with a 3.55 ERA in six career starts against the Mets. The Marlins are 1-5 this season when starting Luzardo, who missed three weeks due to an elbow injury.

He returned Saturday and lost 8-3 to the Philadelphia Phillies, allowing four hits and two runs in 5 2/3 innings. He also matched a season high with eight strikeouts, and he walked just one batter.

Behind Luzardo, Miami's bullpen is on a streak of six consecutive scoreless innings. During that two-game span, Tanner Scott has one win and one save. For the season, Scott has a 2.00 ERA and five saves. Last year, he posted a 2.31 ERA and 12 saves.

With a fastball that reaches 97 mph and a wipeout slider, the 29-year-old left-hander could be trade bait before this year's deadline. On May 4, the Marlins traded reigning NL batting champ Luis Arraez, signaling that another rebuild is underway.

For the Mets, rookie Christian Scott will make his third major league start on Friday.

The 24-year-old right-hander is 0-1 with a 2.84 ERA after starts against the Tampa Bay Rays and Atlanta Braves. In 12 2/3 innings, Scott has 14 strikeouts while allowing just three walks. He has an impressive 1.105 WHIP.

A former Florida Gators reliever, Scott, 24, has made a stunning rise up the ranks, becoming New York's top pitching prospect.

This will be a homecoming for Scott, who went to high school in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., less than 35 miles from the Marlins' stadium.

While the Marlins were idle on Thursday, the Mets beat the Phillies 6-5 in 11 innings.

It was the second time in the past week that the Mets narrowly avoided getting swept by an NL East power thanks to winning the finale by one run.

New York lost two straight against the Atlanta Braves before winning 4-3 on Brandon Nimmo's walk-off homer in the bottom of the ninth on Sunday.

The Mets then lost three straight in a home-and-home series against the Phillies before prevailing on Thursday.

"Overall, what a great team win," said rookie Mets manager Carlos Mendoza, who held a team meeting following New York's Wednesday loss. "The guys continued to battle."

Despite the series-ending win, the Mets have several concerns, including the status of Nimmo. He missed the Thursday game due to an illness.

In addition, New York closer Edwin Diaz squandered a ninth-inning lead on Thursday. After missing all of last season due to a knee injury, the right-hander has blown three of his past four save chances.

--Field Level Media