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The New York Mets return to National League play against the Pittsburgh Pirates after a short three-game interleague detour against the Toronto Blue Jays. It will be the first time this season the two squads will face off after splitting eight games in 2011.
Both teams have been up and down lately, with the Mets going 4-6 over the last 10 games, while the Pirates have been .500 over the same stretch. New York is fresh off losing two of three to the Blue Jays and haven't won a series since sweeping the Philadelphia Phillies May 7-9.
Pittsburgh lost two of three in their interleague tangle with the Detroit Tigers and last won a series when they beat the Houston Astros at home May 11-13.
Johan Santana (1-2, 2.89) will take the ball for the Mets looking to continue his impressive return from shoulder surgery. In his eight starts this season, the lefty could have won seven of them.
The man facing Santana, Erik Bedard (2-5, 3.07) has been equally impressive his first season with the Pirates after failing to get the job done with the Seattle Mariners or Boston Red Sox over the past four years.
You can watch all the action locally on SNY or WFAN 660 with first pitch scheduled for 7:05 p.m.