Game Two: Texas - Kason Gabbard (1-2, 4.75) NY Mets - Pedro Martinez (1-0, 6.91)

(Sports Network) - With their manager's job possibly hanging in the balance, the New York Mets play a doubleheader this afternoon against the Texas Rangers at Shea Stadium.

The double-dip was made necessary when heavy rain in the New York area caused a postponement on Saturday.

John Maine heads to the hill for the Mets in the first game. The right-hander, who is 6-4 with a 3.60 earned run average on the season, received a no- decision on Tuesday against Arizona, as he allowed three runs and five hits in five innings of his team's 9-5 loss.

Maine did not factor in the decision the only other time he faced the Rangers, giving up two runs and just two hits in 6 1/3 innings.

Getting the call in the second game for the Mets will be right-hander Pedro Martinez, who is just 1-0 with a 6.91 earned run average on the year. Martinez received a no-decision in his second start since returning from the disabled list on Sunday against San Diego, as he allowed four runs and 10 hits in five innings of an 8-6 loss.

The 36-year-old right-hander has faced the Rangers 13 times and has had success, posting a 9-2 mark to go along with a miniscule 1.92 ERA. He has also fanned 109 Rangers batters in 85 1/3 frames.

Maine will be opposed in the first game by veteran right-hander Kevin Millwood, who is 4-3 with a 4.91 ERA. Millwood did not get a decision on Tuesday against Kansas City, but was battered for five runs and 11 hits in six innings of a 6-5 win.

Millwood has faced the Mets 22 times (19 starts) and is 7-5 against them with a 3.38 ERA.

Texas, meanwhile, will pin its hopes in game two on lefty Kason Gabbard, who is winless in his last eight starts. Gabbard, though, hasn't pitched since May 28 against Tampa when he absorbed the loss after surrendering five runs (four earned) and five hits in 4 1/3 innings, dropping him to 1-2 on the season, while raising his ERA to 4.75.

Gabbard has never faced the Mets.

In the opener of this set on Friday, Oliver Perez tossed seven strong innings, guiding New York to a 7-1 victory. Endy Chavez went 2-for-4 with an RBI and a run scored for the Mets, who won for just the second in time in their last eight games.

Perez (5-4), who was winless in his last four starts, limited the Rangers to one run on three hits and struck out a season-high-tying eight batters against three walks. The lefty also knocked in two runs.

Jose Reyes had two hits and scored twice, while David Wright, Carlos Beltran and Marlon Anderson each drove in a run.

Scott Feldman (1-3) went five-plus innings and allowed seven runs -- six earned -- on eight hits to absorb the loss.

Josh Hamilton finished 2-for-4 with a solo home run for the Rangers, who have dropped two straight following a three-game winning streak. Feldman notched the other hit for Texas, while Milton Bradley walked twice.

Following the game the Mets announced that they had acquired outfielder Trot Nixon from the Arizona Diamondbacks for a player to be named later. The Mets also placed Moises Alou on the disabled list.

New York took two of three from the Rangers back in 2003. This is Texas' first-ever visit to Shea Stadium.

The Mets are 94-90 all-time in interleague play, while the Rangers have posted a 95-103 mark against the Senior Circuit.