Mets @ Marlins

Who will WIN this matchup?

New York Mets (87-52)

@ Miami Marlins (57-80)

Starting Pitchers:

Carrasco (NYM): 13-6; 3.91 ERA

Lopez (MIA) 8-9; 3.66 ERA

Current odds:

New York Mets: (-164)

Miami Marlins: (+142)

• The starting line-up for the Mets is as follows:

• The starting line-up for the Marlins is as follows:

• The New York Mets will have a new vantage point when they take the field on Saturday for the middle contest of a three-game series against the host Miami Marlins. The Mets will open play in second place in the National League East for just the second time this season. Aside from falling a half-game out after the April 11 action, the Mets had topped the division every day this year. Now they are looking up at the Atlanta Braves, who hold a half-game lead after they beat the San Diego Padres 6-4 on Friday following the Mets’ 6-3 loss to the out-of-contention Marlins. Atlanta (87-51) is riding an eight-game winning streak and has 23 wins in its past 28 games.

• New York (87-52) has lost four of its past six and is 12-12 over the past 24 games. The Mets held a 10 1/2-game division lead at the start of June and were still up by seven games through Aug. 10.

• New York is 10-5 against the Marlins this year, but the Mets couldn’t stop Garrett Cooper (3-for-3 with a two-run homer), Nick Fortes (3-for-4, two runs, one RBI) and Miguel Rojas (two doubles, one RBI) on Friday.

• The Mets will try to bounce back on Saturday behind Carlos Carrasco (13-6, 3.91 ERA). The veteran right-hander is tied with Chris Bassitt for the team lead in wins.

• Miami will start Pablo Lopez (8-9, 3.66 ERA) on Saturday. The right-hander ranks second on the club in victories, trailing only NL Cy Young Award candidate Sandy Alcantara.

• The Mets are 15-9 this year when Carrasco pitches. He has made nine quality starts, but he has lost his past two outings, allowing a combined eight runs (four earned) in 4 2/3 innings against the Braves and the Washington Nationals. Carrasco has pitched well in each of his three starts against Miami this year, going 2-0 with a 2.29 ERA. In eight career starts against the Marlins, he is 4-0 with a 2.17 ERA.

• The Marlins (57-80) are 13-14 when using Lopez, who has made 10 quality starts this year. In nine career starts against the Mets, Lopez is 3-4 with a 5.51 ERA.

• Miami, which snapped a nine-game losing skid on Thursday by beating the Philadelphia Phillies 6-5, is on a modest two-game winning streak. On Friday, the Marlins jumped ahead in the first inning on Cooper’s two-run shot and never allowed the Mets to catch them.

• The Mets played on the series opener without right fielder Starling Marte, whose right middle finger was broken on Tuesday when he was hit by a pitch. Marte has not been placed on the injured list.