(Sports Network) - Neither New York's Mike Pelfrey or Ricky Nolasco of Florida entered this season with much previous success, yet both are currently leading their respective team in wins. Those two will square off tonight in the second part of a three-game series tonight between the Mets and Marlins.

Pelfrey has won his last three starts and has posted back-to-back complete games, the first two of his career. He held Atlanta to three runs on August 20 in going the distance before falling two outs shy of his first career shutout on Monday versus Houston. He ended up allowing one run on six hits in the complete-game effort.

Pelfrey went 3-8 with a 5.57 earned run average in 15 outings last year, but has posted a 13-8 mark with a 3.70 ERA in 26 starts this year. He is the first Mets pitcher to toss back-to-back complete games since Rick Reed in 2001.

The 24-year-old righty has struggled in his career against the Marlins, though. He has lost all three of his starts against them this year with a 10.66 ERA, and is 1-4 in six lifetime starts versus Florida with a 7.20 ERA. In fact, his lost loss before his current personal win streak came on July 30 to the Marlins.

Nolasco, meanwhile, entered this season with a lifetime record of 12-13 and 40 games (26 starts), but is Florida's lone double-digit winner this year at 13-7 with a 3.62 ERA. He has won his last two starts, including the first shutout of his career on August 19 in San Francisco. In his most recent outing, he held Arizona to just two runs on three hits over 7 1/3 innings.

The right-hander is 1-1 with a 3.48 ERA in four games (3 starts) this year versus the Mets and 2-4 with a 7.34 ERA lifetime against them. Nolasco, 25, lost to New York on August 8, allowing three runs in a 3-0 setback.

Florida's bullpen failed to hold a lead in Friday's opener, as closer Kevin Gregg watched a 2-1 lead transform into a three-run deficit when he allowed a grand slam to Carlos Beltran with two outs in the top of the ninth inning.

The Marlins made it interesting with two runs of their own in the bottom of the frame to fall just short in the 5-4 loss.

Beltran added a sacrifice fly while Luis Castillo and David Wright both finished 2-for-5 and scored a run for the Mets, who have won 13 of their last 17 contests and increased their lead over second-place Philadelphia in the National League East to two games.

The Marlins are seven games back of the Mets.

Jorge Cantu had two hits, including a double, and drove in two runs for Florida, which has dropped three of its last four games. Hanley Ramirez was 2- for-3 with two walks and a run scored, and Josh Willingham added a solo homer.

New York has won eight of 13 against the Marlins this year, with the Mets owning a 4-3 edge in Florida.