AP Sports Preview

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (Interstat) — The St. Lucie Mets visit the Tampa Tarpons on Wednesday evening in the first game of a doubleheader at George M. Steinbrenner Field. First pitch is scheduled for [time] under partly cloudy skies with temperatures around [temperature] degrees. The weather forecast was unavailable for the exact game time.

St. Lucie (10-11) enters on a high note after a 12-2 victory over Palm Beach on Sunday. The Mets have won three of their last four games following a five-game losing streak. Tampa (8-13) also won Sunday, beating Lakeland 10-7, snapping a three-game skid. The Tarpons have split their last six contests.

Mets right-hander Nicolas Carreno has been a bright spot. In his last outing Sunday, he tossed four scoreless innings, allowing one hit and striking out five. Over his previous four appearances, Carreno has a 1.32 ERA in 14 2/3 innings with 23 strikeouts. He has not allowed more than one earned run in any of those outings.

For Tampa, first baseman Hans Montero drove in four runs in Sunday’s win, going 2-for-4. However, the 21-year-old has struggled for consistency, with just three hits in his last five games entering Wednesday. He is hitting .222 over his last 10 contests but has shown power with a double and two RBIs in that span.

The Tarpons have dropped five of their last seven home games against St. Lucie dating to last season. The Mets have won three straight road games.

Wednesday’s game is the first of a five-game series between the teams at Steinbrenner Field. The doubleheader continues with a second game later Wednesday evening.

Projection: Interstat’s game simulator projects a 5-4 St. Lucie victory. The ELO system gives Tampa a 51 percent probability to win.

Probable pitchers: St. Lucie has not announced a starter for Game 1. Tampa is expected to start right-hander Pedro Rodriguez, who earned a hold Sunday with 1 1/3 scoreless innings.

Notes: St. Lucie third baseman Randy Guzman went 3-for-4 with a home run and two RBIs in Sunday’s win. … Tampa reliever J.T. Etheridge allowed two runs over three innings Sunday. … The Mets have outscored opponents 44-35 in the first inning this season. … The Tarpons are 3-7 in one-run games.