NEW YORK (AP) - Dillon Gee wants to pitch. With 19 straight days of games, some extra time off for the New York Mets' rookie right-hander doesn't look so bad, either.

Gee had his start Wednesday night washed out when the Mets and Florida Marlins were postponed by a steady downpour before the game ever started. He'll now have to wait until Sunday to try for his 11th win.

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``I hate having a change in the routine and all the days rest, and it throws everything off, but it doesn't concern me,' said Gee. ``Kind of throws you off but it will be nice to have a couple of days off.'

Pushing Gee back allows R.A. Dickey and Jonathon Niese to stay on schedule. The Marlins pushed all their starters back one day. Clay Hensley, originally scheduled to start Wednesday, will go Thursday at home against St. Louis.

No makeup date has been announced, but the teams meet for a four-game series at Citi Field from Aug. 29-Sept. 1.

The Mets have a scheduled off day Thursday but could use an extra day to regroup after hitting a recent rough patch before the NL East-rival Atlanta Braves come to town for a three-game weekend series.

New York has lost four in a row after winning five straight, three of those losses coming late in the game.

The Mets tied it in the ninth on Scott Hairston's homer Sunday only to lose in Washington when the Nationals rallied in the bottom half. On Monday, the Mets did it again: Lucas Duda hit a tying two-run shot in the ninth and lost in the 10th. Then they blew a one-run lead in the ninth on Tuesday night.

The challenge for manager Terry Collins is keeping his team's spirits up.

``This is the toughest part of the year, there is no question during the heat of the summer and then there's 20 in a row,' Collins said. ``We tried to make sure the load is lightened up a little for 'em, continue to try and be as positive as you can.'

Marlins manager Jack McKeon didn't seem to mind the extra time off. His team is on a roll, reaching .500 (55-55) after slipping 11 games under on June 28. Florida is 23-15 since McKeon took over on June 20.

I don't think it messes up things too bad,' McKeon said. ``It just gives the pitchers an extra day, which is good. That doesn't hurt us there.'

It does ensure star shortstop Hanley Ramirez will miss one less game.

The three-time All-Star sprained his shoulder Tuesday night while diving for a pop fly to shallow left. He was sent back to Florida for an MRI on Wednesday.

Ramirez likely will come back during the upcoming four-game series against Florida in St. Louis.

``If I had to believe what the trainer told me, I would feel he is going to get into the Cardinals series, somewhere,' McKeon said. ``I could be wrong but that's my gut feeling right now.'

Ramirez, the 2009 NL batting champion, was on the disabled list earlier this season with a lower back strain and is having an off year. He is hitting .243 with 10 homers and 45 RBIs. But he has surged since McKeon took over as manager.

On June 21, McKeon made Ramirez the cleanup hitter and he has hit .304 with six homers and 28 RBIs.

The Mets and Marlins also were rained out at New York on May 17. The postponement Wednesday was the 37th rainout this season in the major leagues. There were only 21 all last year, according to STATS LLC.

NOTES: Florida has won seven of the first 10 meetings between the teams this year and is 4-0 at Citi Field. ... Mets ace Johan Santana will return to New York Thursday afternoon to have his surgically repaired shoulder examined. He has lingering discomfort in the shoulder after making his first rehab start. ... Marlins ace Josh Johnson (right shoulder inflammation) threw for 5 minutes from 60 feet. He hasn't pitched since May 16. ... Marlins INF Emilio Bonifacio was named NL Player of the Month for July.