New York Mets

          Series preview: Mets vs. Marlins

          NEW YORK METS (6-3, first place/NL East) vs. MIAMI MARLINS (3-6, third place/NL East)

          Thursday: RHP Dillon Gee (0-1, 9.00) vs. RHP Jarred Cosart (0-1, 1.50), 7:10 p.m. ET

          Friday: RHP Bartolo Colon (2-0, 2.77) vs. RHP David Phelps (0-0, 36.00), 7:10 p.m. ET

          Saturday: RHP Jacob deGrom (1-1, 1.46) vs. RHP Mat Latos (0-2, 17.36), 7:10 p.m. ET

          Sunday: RHP Matt Harvey (2-0, 2.25) vs. RHP Tom Koehler (1-1, 3.18), 1:10 p.m. ET

          MARLINS SHORT HOPS

          • Giancarlo Stanton, whose 2014 season ended when he was beaned in the face by Milwaukee’s Mike Fiers last Sept. 11, had been wearing a facemask since his return until Tuesday. Stanton shed the protective gear for the first time when he batted against Atlanta Braves left-handed reliever Andrew McKirahan. He again went without the facemask against left-handed pitching on Wednesday. Stanton began the season in a 3-for-23 rut. He currently is hitting .200 with no homers. He signed a 13-year, $325 million contract on Nov. 19, which runs through 2027. Stanton may opt out after 2020. Stanton will become the franchise’s all-time home run leader with his next long ball. He is tied with Dan Uggla at 154. The only other active players to be their franchise’s all-time home run leader: Tampa Bay’s Evan Longoria and Washington’s Ryan Zimmerman.

          • Major League Baseball recently fined Jarred Cosart for placing illegal bets, but he was not found to have bet on baseball. MLB’s statement suggested that Cosart, who was acquired last July 31 from the Houston Astros, fully cooperated with investigators.

          • Outfielder Christian Yelich was scratched from Tuesday’s lineup with back tightness. He also missed Wednesday’s game. Ichiro Suzuki started in Yelich’s place. Like Stanton, Yelich signed a big deal this winter -- seven years, $49.6 million on March 22. Ichiro’s first Marlins start, by the way, came Sunday. He replaced Marcell Ozuna, who was scratched by manager Mike Redmond for arriving late to work.

          • No. 1 catcher Jarrod Saltalamacchia is off to a 2-for-22 (.091) start. J.T. Realmuto started Wednesday’s matinee against the Atlanta Braves and went 2-for-3 with a walk and two runs scored. Realmuto just replaced Jeff Mathis, who landed on the disabled list with a fractured right hand.

          • Ex-Yankee David Phelps, whose wife gave birth Monday to son Jack, is due to rejoin the Marlins in New York. He will make Friday’s start. Phelps, who was acquired with Martin Prado on Dec. 19, starts in place of Henderson Alvarez. Alvarez was placed on the disabled list with a shoulder injury.

          • Leadoff hitter/second baseman Dee Gordon has a .400 on-base percentage and has reached base safely in eight of the Marlins’ first nine games. He arrived with Dan Haren in a Dec. 11 trade with the Los Angeles Dodgers.

          • Ace Jose Fernandez is expected back from Tommy John surgery in July. He underwent the procedure last May 16.

          • Reliever Carter Capps’ unorthodox delivery, during which he springs off the mound, has drawn attention this week from multiple media outlets. See a video from Miami Herald beat reporter Manny Navarro here. Capps was promoted from Triple-A New Orleans when Alvarez landed on the disabled list.

          • Mat Latos' Marlins tenure has gotten off to an ugly beginning. Latos allowed seven runs and was knocked out after recording only two outs in his Miami debut, against the Braves on April 7. Facing Atlanta again on Monday, Latos required 80 pitches to navigate four innings. He allowed three runs (two earned) on five hits and three walks.

          • Shortstop Adeiny Hechavarria, who turned 26 on Wednesday, has lifted his average to .242 after a 1-for-22 start to the season.