=== Florida Marlins Team Report - June 16 ===

(My Sportsbook) - The Florida Marlins start a four-game series against the New York Mets tonight at Pro Player Stadium.

One half game separates the Mets and Marlins from the cellar in the National League East, with New York at the bottom of the division. The Marlins have won four of six contests.

Lefthander Dontrelle Willis is slated to take the mound for the Marlins tonight, as he faces the Mets for the first time in his brief career. The 21- year-old has won his last four starts, posting a 1.26 ERA (four earned runs, 28 2/3 innings) in that span. The Marlins are 6-1 in his appearances this season. That includes a 2-0 mark with a 1.80 ERA in his three home starts, as he's allowed only four runs in 20 innings.

Willis enters tonight's start off his fifth win of the season, as he downed the Milwaukee Brewers at Miller Park on Wednesday. In that game, Willis allowed three runs on eight hits with one walk and five strikeouts.

The Marlins routed Texas, 10-4, at the Ballpark in Arlington last night. Mike Lowell went 3-for-4 with a pair of homers, four RBI and scored three times for Florida. Ivan Rodriguez and Luis Castillo added three hits, two runs scored and an RBI apiece for the Marlins. Rodriguez, the former Ranger, finished 3- for-4 after going just 1-for-8 in the first two games.

The Marlins, who are 18-16 at Pro Player Stadium this year, start a seven-game homestand tonight. They have dropped two straight at home.

In his last six games, Marlins first baseman Derrek Lee is hitting .429 (9- for-21) with three homers, three doubles and four RBI.

The Mets and Marlins have split six meetings this season, with Florida winning two of three at home. New York has taken 10 of the last 15 encounters overall, dating back to last year.