Harvey hopes to help Mets avoid sweep in Miami

Although Matt Harvey is unbeaten this season, the New York Mets right-hander has just one victory in his last seven starts.

Harvey heads to the mound this afternoon as the Mets try to avoid a three-game sweep at the hands of the team with the worst record in baseball - the Miami Marlins.

The Mets have been outscored 13-2 in the first two contests of this series.

"We've been struggling offensively for a while," Mets manager Terry Collins said.

Harvey didn't get a decision in New York's 2-1 win on Tuesday against the Yankees at Citi Field. He pitched eight innings and gave up six hits and fanned 10 without walking a batter. It marked Harvey's third double-digit strikeout game this season. The only Mets pitcher with more double-digit strikeout outings in his first 21 games was Dwight Gooden, who had eight.

Harvey has also limited opponents to a .172 batting average, tops in the majors.

The only previous time Harvey faced the Marlins was April 29 in Florida when he allowed a run over 5 1/3 innings in a no-decision.

Kevin Slowey is headed in the opposite direction for the Marlins with an 0-3 mark in his last four starts. The righty gave up eight hits and four runs over 5 1/3 frames of a 7-6 defeat at Tampa Bay on Tuesday.

He is 0-3 in six home starts this year. Slowey, who didn't pitch in the majors in 2012, has dropped his last eight decision at home. The last time he posted a victory at home was Sept. 18, 2010 against Oakland when he pitched for the Minnesota Twins. That's a 13-start winless stretch at home.

This will be the fourth time Slowey's facing the Mets in his career.

A win today would give the Marlins their first series sweep of the season. A third of the team's victories this season have come against the Mets, including yesterday's 8-1 rout.

Jose Fernandez threw seven shutout innings. Fernandez (3-3) allowed just three hits and a walk while striking out eight. He also contributed offensively, going 2-for-3 with an RBI.

"He was keeping his heater down in the zone, throwing to both sides of the plate," Marlins catcher Jeff Mathis said.

Chris Coghlan, Derek Dietrich and Adeiny Hechavarria each had a pair of RBI. Jeff Mathis drove in a run for the Marlins, who have won two straight after a nine-game losing streak.

Justin Turner drove in the lone run for the Mets, who saw starter Collin McHugh (0-1) last just four-plus innings. He surrendered four runs on six hits and three walks.

Miami has won five of the eight meetings this season.