Dominic Fazzini

Wednesday's play 20 Dime -- Dodgers (Kuroda) -1 1/2 runs over METS (Perez)

DODGERS
NOTE: List only Kuroda and Perez as starting pitchers

The Mets gave Dodgers right-hander Hiroki Kuroda (3-4, 3.91 ERA) a ton of trouble last year, pounding him for 10 runs (eight earned) and 15 hits in six innings over two starts.

But this New York team is much different than last season’s squad. Eight of those 15 hits off Kuroda were by five players no longer on the roster, one retired (Moises Alou) and four injured (Carlos Beltran, Carlos Delgado, Angel Pagan and Jose Reyes).

Those missing players have taken a toll of the Mets’ offense, which is downright awful these days. Here are the numbers, which are more frightening than most horror movies: New York has scored 25 runs in its last 11 games, and nine of those came in one game. The Mets, who were shut out on four hits Tuesday, are 2-9 in those 11 games. They have lost four straight, have scored three runs in those four games and haven’t scored at all in their last 22 innings.

Scary, isn’t it?

And just when it can’t get much worse for the Mets, who do they have pitching today? Erratic left-hander Oliver Perez (1-2, 9.97), who is making his first start since May 2. Perez, who was on the disabled list with patellar tendinitis in his right knee, wasn’t exactly sharp in his rehab outings, walking nine batters in 9 1/3 innings over two Triple-A starts. In his last rehab start, he allowed three runs on five hits in five innings while throwing just 46 of his 92 pitches for strikes.

Perez also is 2-3 with a 5.97 ERA in his last five starts against Los Angeles, giving up 30 hits and 22 walks in 28 2/3 innings, and that was when he was healthy.

Enough said? I think so. This one could get ugly fast. Take the Dodgers on the run line