Can Mike Pelfrey turn this thing around?

Not for himself -- Pelfrey had a very good 2010 debut on Friday, allowing two runs over six innings in beating the Nationals -- but for a Mets team that needs something good to happen early in today's series finale with the Rockies in Denver. The game starts at 3:10 p.m.

Pelfrey worked hard this off-season to overcome the hiccups from 2009, but is it too much to ask that he be the definitive No. 2 starter behind Johan Santana? Not if this team wants to stay intact, with Jerry Manuel still manager.

So it's a pretty important second start of the season for Pelfrey. Oh, and a few Rockies have exceptionally good numbers against Pelfrey, most notably Todd Helton, who is 6-for-7 with a homer and five RBI.

Pelfrey will be opposed today by Jorge De La Rosa, who allowed just one hit and struck out nine over seven innings in beating the Padres on Friday. De La Rosa has never lost to the Mets, going 3-0 with a 3.71 ERA.