Mets, Rockies attempt to play two at Coors Field

Right-hander Dillon Gee will try to follow the mound example most recently set by teammmate Matt Harvey on Tuesday when the New York Mets try once again to get on the field to begin a weather-altered four- game series with the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field.

The Mets last played on Saturday, when they got eight innings of two-hit ball from Harvey in a 4-2 defeat of the Minnesota Twins.

New York has since seen its finale against the Twins nixed by inclement weather, then had the same thing happen in Monday night's scheduled opener against the Rockies, which will be made up as part of Tuesday's day/night twinbill.

Gee, who won 13 times in 30 appearances with the Mets two years ago, skidded to just six wins in 17 starts in 2012 and has opened 2013 with a pair of losses to National League foes.

He pitched 6 1/3 innings and allowed just a run in a tough luck 2-1 loss against San Diego on April 4, then was rocked for 10 hits and seven runs while retiring only nine batters in an 8-3 loss at Philadelphia five days later.

Gee, who was a winner in his lone career start against Colorado, returns to the road against the Rockies with a chance to improve on an 11-7 career mark away from home.

For the Rockies, Dominican righty Juan Nicasio meets the Mets for the first time in his 27th career start.

The 26-year-old made 13 starts for the Rockies in 2011 and 11 more last season, before opening 2013 with a 7-3 defeat of the Milwaukee Brewers on April 3, which was followed by a no-decision in a 9-6 loss at San Francisco.

He's given up 12 hits and six runs in 11 combined innings while walking seven batters and striking out four.

Nicasio is 6-3 in 14 lifetime starts in Colorado.

In Tuesday's nightcap, New York's Aaron Laffey will meet Colorado's Jeff Francis.

Laffey has started once and relieved once in a pair of Mets victories this month while giving up 10 hits and three runs in 5 1/3 innings.

He lost his lone career start against the Rockies.

Colorado lefty Jeff Francis, who's 2-2 in six meetings with the Mets, opened his 2013 with a win and a loss in two starts while allowing a .343 opposition batting average in 7 2/3 innings.

He's 37-33 in 100 career outings at Coors Field.

The Rockies won five of seven games with the Mets in both 2011 and 2012. The Mets last won the series, 3-2, in 2010.