New York Mets vs Pittsburgh Pirates MLB Preview: The New York Mets (68-56) are starting to click at the right time. With their current 6-game winning streak, the Metropolitans have taken sole possession of first place in the tight National League East over the Philadelphia Phillies (66-58, 2 GB) and the Florida Marlins (64-61, 4½ GB). On Monday’s matinee, The New York Mets are –134 betting odds favorites against the Pittsburgh Pirates (+114), and the OVER/UNDER in runs has been set at a total of 8½.
In their last 10 games played, the New York Mets are 8-2, and thus, have improved their home record to 36-23, and their road mark to 32-33 with less than 40 games to play. 
Starting at 12:35 PM ET, the Mets and the Pirates kick off the final game of this series from PNC Park in Pittsburgh. The Mets will be going for the clean sweep before coming back home to host the Atlanta Braves.
Meanwhile, the Pittsburgh Pirates (55-69) who have lost 4 in a row, are 3-7 in their last 10 games. Currently Pittsburgh has a 33-31 home mark, and will try to salvage this final game before traveling to St. Louis to take on the Cardinals.
New York Mets’ RHP John Maine, will take the hill this afternoon with a sweep in mind. Making his 24th start of the season, Maine has registered 10 wins and 7 losses, an ERA of 3.97, along with 155 strikeouts, and 61 basses-on-balls in 129.1 innings pitched. For the Pirates, LHP Paul Maholm will try to stop New York’s momentum and get a home win. Maholm will be making his 25th start in 2008, and here are his numbers: 8-7, 3.69 ERA, 113 K, 41 BB, in 161 IP.
