The Mets start a three-game series Tuesday at Pittsburgh after coming off a dismal 2-4 homestand in which they lost consecutive series to Atlanta and Florida.
"It was not the homestand we wanted to have," manager Willie Randolph said. "But with this team, we're taking the same approach. You have to turn the page."
Pittsburgh swept a three-game series in San Francisco over the weekend, then split a doubleheader against the Giants at home on Monday. The Pirates won the opener 3-1 behind a complete game from Paul Maholm before having their win streak snapped with a 10-3 loss in the nightcap.
They'll try to bounce back with Ian Snell (7-10, 3.87 ERA) on the mound. Snell was 6-4 with a 2.63 ERA in 14 starts through June 13, but is 1-6 with a 6.11 ERA in his last nine outings. Pittsburgh has dropped the right-hander's six starts since the All-Star break, with Snell going 0-5 with a 7.31 ERA in those games.
Snell, though, didn't get a decision after delivering a quality start in his last outing on Thursday. He held Arizona to two runs and six hits while striking out seven in six innings, but the Pirates went on to lose 4-2.
Snell is 0-1 with a 7.59 ERA in three career games, including two starts, against the Mets. In his lone start against them this year, he gave up a season high-tying six earned runs in four innings of an 8-4 loss July 24.
While the Pirates have struggled in Snell's second-half starts, the Mets have won each of their six games started by Orlando Hernandez (7-4, 3.05) since the break. Hernandez is 3-0 with a 2.72 ERA in those outings.
The right-hander didn't get a decision Wednesday after allowing three runs and four hits in seven innings of New York's 4-3 victory over Atlanta.
He has dominated the Pirates, going 1-0 with a 1.29 ERA in three career starts against them - all in 2006.
From Pittsburgh, the Mets go to Washington, giving them nine straight games against sub-.500 teams. Losing to the Marlins left a sour taste in their mouths.
"We go 2-4 overall, but ... we should've won two of three in each of these series," said closer Billy Wagner, who blew his second save opportunity of the season on Thursday.
The Mets bullpen blew two games in the Florida series, but that is not an aberration.
The Mets won the NL East last season in large part due to their bullpen. The way things are going now, if they win this year, it will be in spite of it.
The 'pen blew Tom Glavine's first opportunities at win Nos. 300 and 301.
The Mets got consistency last season from Duaner Sanchez before he was injured at the trade deadline, and later from Guillermo Mota, who was acquired in a waiver deal.
Mota, who served a 50-game suspension at the start of this season for testing positive for steroids, has been ineffective.
So has left-hander Scott Schoeneweis, who was signed to a three-year, $10 million contract in the offseason.
NOTES, QUOTES
--RHP Pedro Martinez will make his second rehab start for Class A St. Lucie on Tuesday. After three simulated games, Martinez made his first rehab start last Wednesday and threw 63 pitches over three innings, plus another 17 pitches in the bullpen. GM Omar Minaya said results don't matter now, that building up his arm strength is a priority. Martinez was clocked at 88 mph, which means he should be in the low 90s when he returns.
--C Ramon Castro is day-to-day with arthritis in his lower back. Castro aggravated the condition on a play at the plate in Sunday's game against Florida. The Mets probably will wait until late Tuesday afternoon before making a decision about whether to recall C Sandy Alomar Jr. from Class AAA New Orleans.
--CF Carlos Beltran experienced tightness Sunday while hitting from the right side. When Beltran came off the disabled list Friday after recovering from a strained left oblique muscle, he said he didn't feel as comfortable hitting right-handed. Beltran homered in his first game back, but he went a combined 1-for-10 in the three-game series against Florida.
--C Mike DiFelice will be the Mets' No. 1 man behind the plate until Ramon Castro is ready to return. DiFelice was recalled from Class AAA New Orleans on Sunday when Paul Lo Duca (hamstring) was placed on the disabled list, and he arrived at Shea Stadium at game time. He was playing by the fourth inning. Said DiFelice: "I knew that if something happened, I'd be ready. I've been ready to catch since birth."
--RHP Orlando Hernandez (7-4, 3.05) will start Tuesday night in Pittsburgh. Hernandez has given up three or fewer earned runs in seven of his last 10 starts.
BY THE NUMBERS: 12 -- Earned runs given up by RHP John Maine in his last two starts.
QUOTE TO NOTE: "If we were to win the World Series, now it's really hard for me to say, 'You know what? Man, I want to play again next year.' Because now, you're walking out on top of the world. But if we've got a disappointing ending like we had last year, then I think there's a sense of unfinished business and that bad taste in your mouth that you want to have go away." -- LHP Tom Glavine, on his future.
ROSTER REPORT
MEDICAL WATCH:
RHP Pedro Martinez (rotator cuff surgery) opened the season on the disabled list. He threw a three-inning simulated game July 3, then didn't throw again until July 23. He threw 65 pitches July 27, and had a 67-pitch simulated start Aug. 2. He made his first rehab start Aug. 8 for Class A St. Lucie, and will make another on Aug. 14.
C Paul LoDuca (right hamstring) was injured on Aug. 11 and placed on the disabled list Aug. 13.
C Ramon Castro (sore back) left the Aug. 13 game and is day-to-day.
CF Carlos Beltran (strained left oblique muscle) went on the disabled list retroactive to July 25. He was activated and played on Aug. 10.
C Paul Lo Duca (pulled right hamstring) left the July 28 game and didn't play July 29-Aug. 4. He returned to the lineup Aug. 5.
2B Jose Valentin (broken bone in right leg) went on the disabled list July 21. He will be out until September.
OF Endy Chavez (pulled left hamstring) went on the disabled list June 7. He started light jogging during the first week of July but has been slow to heal.
OF Carlos Gomez (fractured left hand) went on the disabled list July 5 and underwent surgery that day. He is expected to miss six to eight weeks.
RHP Juan Padilla (Tommy John surgery) opened the season on the disabled list. He had another round of right elbow surgery April 13, and he is out for the season.
RHP Duaner Sanchez (dislocated right shoulder) was hurt last season in a car accident. He tore some scar tissue his first time on the mound March 22, and it was then that a hairline fracture in the shoulder was discovered. Sanchez, who opened the season on the disabled list, had another round of surgery April 10, and he is unlikely to return this year.