TONIGHT’S GAME

DODGERS’ ISMAEL VALDES (1-0, 1.29 ERA) vs. METS’ BOBBY JONES

(1-0, 1.13 ERA)

Dodger Stadium, 7 p.m.

TV--None. Radio--KABC (790), KWKW (1330)

UPDATE: Ismael Valdes had a fabulous season debut for the Dodgers, yielding five hits and one run in seven innings in a 2-1 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates. Valdes has won five consecutive games dating to Aug. 31, 1996, yielding a 2.74 ERA during the stretch. Valdes has never lost to the New York Mets, posting a 2-0 record and 3.81 ERA. Yet, Met outfielders Bernard Gilkey and Lance Johnson give him fits. Gilkey is batting .462 off Valdes with a 1.0777 slugging percentage. He has six hits, including two homers, and seven RBIs in 13 at-bats off Valdes. Johnson has a .364 batting average against Valdes. This is the next-to-last game of the Dodgers’ home stand, but they will see the Mets again next week in New York. The Mets once again are struggling. They are the only team in the major leagues with six consecutive losing seasons. They have failed to finish within 18 1/2 games of first place since 1990. Their best move in the off-season was acquiring first baseman John Olerud from the Toronto Blue Jays, and having the Blue Jays pay $5 million of Olerud’s $6.5 million salary. Olerud has gotten off to a torrid start, batting .348 with three doubles and a homer. Jones had a strong debut against the San Diego Padres, giving up six hits, one walk and one earned run in eight innings. He was 1-1 with a 5.84 ERA in two starts last season against the Mets, yielding 19 hits and eight runs in 12 1/3 innings.