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          New York Mets

          Series preview: Mets vs. Marlins

          • Adam Rubin, ESPN Staff WriterAug 28, 2016, 10:30 PM
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              Adam Rubin has covered the Mets since 2003. He's a graduate of Mepham High School on Long Island and the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. He joined ESPNNewYork after spending 10 years at the New York Daily News.
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          NEW YORK METS (66-64, third place/NL East) vs. MIAMI MARLINS (67-63, second place/NL East)

          Monday: RHP Rafael Montero (0-0, 11.57) vs. RHP Jose Fernandez (13-7, 2.91), 7:10 p.m. ET

          Tuesday: RHP Seth Lugo (1-2, 2.51) vs. RHP Tom Koehler (9-9, 3.85), 7:10 p.m. ET

          Wednesday: RHP Bartolo Colon (12-7, 3.44) vs. RHP David Phelps (7-6, 2.52), 7:10 p.m. ET

          Thursday: LHP Steven Matz (9-8, 3.40) vs. RHP Jose Urena (2-5, 5.83), 7:10 p.m. ET

          MARLINS SHORT HOPS

          • Sluggers Giancarlo Stanton (25 homers in 381 at-bats) and Justin Bour (15 homers in 213 at-bats) are on the disabled list. Stanton, who landed on the DL on Aug. 14, may be unable to return during the regular season because of a groin strain. Bour has been on the DL since July 6 with a high-ankle sprain.

          • Dee Gordon returned July 28 after serving an 80-game suspension for violating MLB’s policy on performance-enhancing drugs. He is hitting .287 (31-for-108) with nine steals in 28 games since his activation from the restricted list.

          • The Marlins acquired ex-Met Jeff Francoeur from the Atlanta Braves in a three-team trade last Wednesday that also involved the Texas Rangers.

          • Ichiro Suzuki has 3,009 career major-league hits. His next hit will match Wade Boggs for 27th all time. Ichiro recorded his 3,000th hit with a seventh-inning triple against Chris Rusin on Aug. 7 at Colorado. He has 4,287 hits between MLB and Japan -- unofficially more than Pete Rose (4,256).

          • Fernandez is 10-2 with a 1.91 ERA at Marlins Park and 3-5 with a 4.42 ERA on the road this season. He is 2-0 with a 1.42 ERA in three starts against the Mets in 2016.

          • Closer A.J. Ramos, an All-Star selection, returned from the disabled list on Aug. 21 after being sidelined with a hairline fracture of his right middle finger.

          • Phelps stepped back into the rotation on Aug. 5 after working out of the bullpen during the opening four months of the season. The Marlins needed his services in the rotation with Wei-Yin Chen sidelined since July 20 and a trade for San Diego’s Colin Rea undone because of an elbow issue.

          • The Marlins have played in 20 straight games decided by three runs or fewer. That’s the longest streak in franchise history as well as the longest streak in the majors this season.

          METS SHORT HOPS

          • Montero will be promoted from Double-A Binghamton for a spot start on Monday. Citing fatigue, the Mets decided to skip Jacob deGrom’s turn after he allowed a combined 13 runs and 25 hits in 9 2/3 innings over his last two starts. Montero had a 7.20 ERA and 40 walks in 80 innings with Triple-A Las Vegas this season. He then had a 1.70 ERA in eight Eastern League starts after a demotion to the B-Mets. Montero tossed seven scoreless innings against Hartford last Monday in his final outing with Binghamton.

          • The Mets have more injury issues. Asdrubal Cabrera departed Sunday’s game in the first inning after a first-base collision resulted in discomfort in the left knee. He recently had been sidelined for three weeks with a strained patellar tendon in that knee. Cabrera will be further evaluated Monday. Meanwhile, Yoenis Cespedes (quadriceps) and Neil Walker (back) sat out the series finale against the Philadelphia Phillies with flare-ups of recent injury woes.

          • Matz is now penciled in to return from the disabled list for Thursday’s start, which coincides with the Sept. 1 roster expansion. Matz has been on the disabled list with a mild shoulder strain. He reported no discomfort after throwing a bullpen session to test the shoulder on Sunday at Citi Field.

          • Jay Bruce is hitting .165 (14-for-85) with 26 strikeouts since joining the Mets.