Mets-Marlins Preview

Josh Johnson's last trip to the mound ended a lot earlier than he had hoped. Facing the depleted New York Mets could help the Florida Marlins' emerging ace rebound in a big way.

Johnson (12-3, 2.99 ERA) will try to continue his dominance of the Mets on Wednesday night, when the Marlins host the middle game of this series.

The right-hander leads the Marlins (66-59) in wins, ERA and strikeouts (142), but lasted just 4 1/3 innings Thursday after giving up four runs and seven hits, including two homers, in a 4-1 loss at Houston. That performance halted his personal five-game winning streak over his previous six outings.

"It was just one of those days where it seems that nothing is right," said Johnson, who was named to his first All-Star game last month. "You have to try to get through it, and I just could not get through it.

"I never really got into a rhythm. I wasn't throwing my slider for a strike and I wasn't throwing my changeup for a strike. So, all I had was a fastball and that is what happens when all you have is a fastball."

He has an ideal opportunity to rebound from Thursday's loss by facing the Mets (57-69). He's 6-0 with a 2.05 ERA in eight starts against them, including a 3-0 mark and 1.63 ERA in four outings at Land Shark Stadium.

Johnson will also try to help Florida win for the eighth time in 10 home games after beating New York 2-1 on Tuesday to remain 5 1/2 games behind Colorado for the NL wild card.

The Mets, who have lost six of seven, are reeling after discovering ace Johan Santana needs surgery for bone chips in his left elbow will be lost for the remainder of the season. They also announced setup man J.J. Putz, on the disabled list since June 5, will not return after an MRI that revealed further damage to his right elbow.

New York has 12 players on the disabled list, including All-Stars David Wright, Carlos Beltran, Jose Reyes and Carlos Delgado.

"At this point, you might as well get all the injuries out of the way this season and have everybody have their surgery this offseason and next year we go through the season with nobody hurt and just roll and go to the playoffs," said right fielder Jeff Francoeur, who had two doubles despite playing with a torn left thumb ligament.

Gary Sheffield could be back in the lineup after exiting Tuesday's loss in the seventh with a left lower back spasm. The left fielder is hitting .280 with 10 homers and 43 RBIs, but is 3 for 19 over the last seven games.

"I'll take my problems," Marlins manager Fredi Gonzalez said when asked to compare his team's injuries to New York's.

The Mets have dropped four in a row since Mike Pelfrey (9-8, 4.67) allowed two runs in six innings in Friday's 4-2 win over Philadelphia.

The right-hander has struggled through 10 road starts, going 4-5 with a 5.93 ERA. He has an 8.33 ERA while losing his last three.

Pelfrey is 1-5 with a 5.36 ERA in nine starts against the Marlins.