(Sports Network) - Late-blooming knuckleball specialist R.A. Dickey aims for a fourth straight win tonight when the New York Mets head to Baltimore for the initial test of a three-game interleague series at Camden Yards.
Now 35, Dickey was a first-round draft choice out of Tennessee in 1996 by the Texas Rangers, where he pitched from 2001-2006.
He reached the majors again in 2008 with Seattle and last season with Minnesota, but had won just 22 times in 144 career appearances before coming to the Mets in 2010.
The Nashville native got a no-decision in his first outing with the Mets on May 19, but has since won three straight while giving up seven runs on 23 hits across 19 1/3 innings.
In 25 1/3 innings with the Mets, he's walked nine batters and struck out 16.
Dickey faced the Orioles five times while in the American League, going 0-2 with a 5.19 earned run average in 17 1/3 innings.
Baltimore goes with another former first-round pick in righty Jeremy Guthrie, who was selected 22nd overall by Cleveland in 2002.
The 31-year-old Oregon native has lost two straight starts since a three- decision win streak in mid-May, when he toppled Minnesota, Cleveland and Oakland.