(Sports Network) - The National League East-leading New York Mets have temporarily exorcised their demons and will now shoot for back-to-back wins with this afternoon's second test of a three-game series against the Atlanta Braves at Turner Field.

The Mets had lost five in a row, including a four-game sweep in Philadelphia, before posting a 7-1 win in Friday's series opener in Atlanta. Carlos Delgado and Jose Reyes each homered and John Maine pitched seven stellar innings to lead the Mets out of the loss column.

Delgado ended 2-for-4 and hit a three-run shot, while Reyes went 2-for-5 with a stolen base for New York, which remains two games ahead of the Phillies for the top spot in the division. Philly defeated Florida Friday night in Miami.

Maine picked up his third win in four starts. The right-hander allowed one run on three hits, walked three and struck out eight batters.

Toeing the rubber for the Mets today will be Mike Pelfrey, who is 0-7 with a 5.92 earned run average in 10 games (nine starts) this season. Pelfrey is winless in 11 starts since a victory over the Cincinnati Reds on July 18 of last season.

Pelfrey last pitched in the majors on July 28 versus Washington and did not factor in the outcome, yielding three runs and eight hits in six innings. The righty took on Atlanta for the first time on April 20 and was the loser after giving up four runs in five frames during a 7-3 defeat.

Chuck James is expected to be activated off the disabled list to make Saturday's start for Atlanta, which is 5 1/2 games behind Arizona in the wild card standings and also 5 1/2 games off New York's lead in the East.

Shelved since early August with left shoulder soreness, James is 9-9 with a 4.22 ERA in 25 starts this season. He is 1-2 in his previous seven outings and suffered the loss on August 16 versus San Francisco. James was reached for six runs in just 3 2/3 innings of a 9-3 setback at Turner Field.

The southpaw is 1-3 with a 6.33 earned run average in six career games, four of which have been starts, against the Mets. James has lost both starts against New York this season.

In Friday's loss, Pete Orr had one of Atlanta's four hits and scored the only run for the Braves, who have lost seven of 10 games. Atlanta starting pitcher Tim Hudson absorbed the loss, his second straight after winning nine straight decisions. The right-hander allowed four runs on six hits in six innings of work.

The Braves are 8-5 against the Mets this season, with a 4-3 mark at Turner Field.