Marlins vs. Mets: New York SP Johan Santana Knows How to Pitch Hanley Ramirez

The Miami Marlins and New York Mets will open up a three-game National League East series on Tuesday night inside Citi Field, with the first pitch scheduled for 7:10 ET.

Las Vegas oddsmakers have established the Mets as slight +105 home underdogs, while the total is currently seven, but is facing downward pressure in the betting market.

Marlins starting pitcher Josh Johnson (0-2, 5.94 ERA) is coming off his best outing of the season, picking up a no-decision in a 5-2 home win over the Chicago Cubs. He allowed two runs and seven hits over seven frames in that contest.

The right-hander was handed a 7-1 loss by the Philadelphia Phillies in his only road start, surrendering a season high six runs and 11 hits.

Johnson has a great opportunity to wind up in the win column in this matchup, posting a dominating 8-1 record and 2.68 ERA in 14 career starts versus the Mets, but is just 1-1 with a 4.18 ERA in five outings in this ball park.

Sports bettors will find that the Marlins are 1-4 in Johnson's last five starts as a road favorite, while the "over" is 11-3-2 in that situation.

Johan Santana (0-2, 3.97 ERA) will also be looking for his first victory of the 2012 campaign, as he lasted just 1.1 innings in a 9-3 road loss to the Atlanta Braves last time out.

The Mets left-hander has been much better in two home starts, posting an 0-1 mark and 0.90 ERA, but has received just one total run of support.

In nine career starts versus the Marlins, Santana has compiled a 6-1 record and 1.47 ERA, issuing just 17 walks and striking out 70 in 61.1 combined frames. He has limited Miami third baseman Hanley Ramirez to just three hits in 21 at-bats (.143).

The Mets are 5-0 in Santana's last five starts with six days of rest, while the "under" is 5-1 in the last six meetings in the Big Apple.

Weather forecasts are suggesting partly cloudy skies and game-time temperatures in the mid-50s, with 10-15 mph winds out of the southwest (in from left). 

The "over" was 3-0 at Citi Field in these conditions last year.