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The New York Mets return to Citi Field after a 6-5 road trip and will be welcomed by a familiar face in Jose Reyes. The electric shortstop's Miami Marlins are coming to town for a three-game series that will kick off Tuesday night.
This isn't the first time Reyes will play in front of the home New York fans since spurning the Mets in the offseason in favor of a $106 million contract from the Marlins. He returned to Citi Field April 24th and couldn't get out of his own way while being booed mercilessly by the Mets fans. Reyes went 1-for-12 in those three games, managing just one single.
It's a very different look to Reyes and the Marlins this time around. While the Marlins came to town with high hopes for the 2012 season back in April, now they limp in after a full on fire-sale sitting in last place. Reyes, on the other hand, is now one of the hottest players in baseball, carrying a 25-game hitting streak into Tuesday's action.
Another difference with Reyes is where he's batting in the lineup. If Mets fans want to boo him again, they'll have to wait until later in the first inning since manager Ozzie Guillen has been hitting the speedster third in the lineup. Even with slugger Giancarlo Stanton returning from the disabled list, the Marlins still plan on keeping Reyes in the three hole.
Trying to slow down the Marlins shortstop is Jonathon Niese, fresh off seven innings of one hit ball in a win over the San Francisco Giants on Wednesday. The lefty has faced Miami twice this season and though he pitched well enough to win, he didn't receive a decision in either game. The first was April 26 when he gave up just two runs over seven innings while in the second game Niese held the Marlins scoreless over six innings.
Taking the ball opposite Niese is fellow lefty Wade LeBlanc, who is making just his second start of the season and third of his career against the Mets. In those three games, LeBlanc is 0-1 with a 3.18 ERA.
You can see all the action locally on SNY or listen on WFAN 660 with first pitch scheduled for 7:10 p.m.