Flushing, NY (My Sportsbook) - The disappointing New York Mets begin their final road series of the season this evening, when they take on the Pittsburgh Pirates in the opener of a three-game set at PNC Park.

New York is currently in last place in the National League East -- one-half game behind the Florida Marlins. This, for a team with a $105 million payroll.

Sunday, the Mets were handed a 5-1 loss by the Montreal Expos. Ty Wigginton knocked in the only run for New York, which has dropped two of its last three and five-of-nine.

Al Leiter suffered the loss, permitting four runs -- three earned -- on seven hits in five innings of work. He walked three and whiffed four, while giving up one home run.

Steve Trachsel takes the ball this evening for the Mets. Trachsel was strong in his last trip to the slate, defeating the Chicago Cubs with seven innings of three-hit, one-run ball. He walked three and struck out six, while yielding one round-tripper.

The victory was the veteran righthander's second in three decisions and marked the third time in four games that he surrendered only one run. Since going 6-7 with a 3.87 earned run average in the first half of the year, Trachsel is 4-4 with a 2.80 ERA. This will be the 31-year-old hurler's 12th start of the 2002 campaign on the road, where he is 4-5 with a 3.54 earned run average and one complete game.

For his career, Trachsel is 3-7 versus Pittsburgh. He faced the Pirates once earlier this season and was tagged with the loss after allowing three runs -- one earned -- on seven hits in six innings of work.

Josh Fogg counters for the hosts. Fogg did not factor into the decision in his last trip to the bump, permitting a pair of runs on four hits in seven innings against the Cincinnati Reds. He walked one and struck out six, while giving up two home runs.

The no-decision was the righthander's second in as many starts. Fogg's last decision was a win on September 7, when he held the Marlins scoreless on five hits in six frames. That win snapped his personal four-game slide. This will be the 25-year-old hurler's 15th outing of the year at home, where he is 5-6 with a 4.93 earned run average.

Fogg has never faced the Mets.

Pittsburgh has won two of its last three following a 5-4 victory on Sunday against the Chicago Cubs. Kris Benson worked five innings for the win, while Jack Wilson scored three times and drove in a run, helping the Pirates move to 4-2 in their last six games. Brian Giles chipped in a pair of hits and an RBI in the winning effort.

Giles has already established a team mark for walks in a year by a lefthanded batter, besting Barry Bonds' 1992 record of 127. With 129 free passes, Giles is only eight away from tying the Pirates record of 137, set by Ralph Kiner in 1951.

Benson allowed three runs on five hits, with a pair of strikeouts and two free passes. He has won his last five decisions. Mike Williams earned his 44th save of the season, despite yielding a run in the ninth.

The Pirates took two-of-three when these teams met earlier this season. Still and all, the Mets own a commanding 19-8 cushion in this series since the start of the 1999 campaign.

New York is 37-41 this year as the guest, while Pittsburgh is 4-3 on a current 10-game homestand and 36-42 in 2002 as the host.