Mets-Phillies Series Preview

The Mets renew their rivalry with the Phillies in a two-game series at Citizens Bank Park. New York is 9-4 against Philadelphia this year, taking all four series so far, but their lead in the standings is slipping away. It’s been a back-and-forth season for both teams, with the Phillies in first, then the Mets, then Phillies and now the Mets again by the slimmest of margins. It’ll probably be like that for the rest of the season. In their last 10 games, the Phillies are 8-2, while the Mets are 7-3. Jose Reyes has been rehearsing a new celebration dance to entertain the thin-skinned Philadelphians just in time for the series, while Shane Victorino gets fitted for a new Little League helmet and works on his tried-and-true practice of taunting the Mets dugout. And Jimmy Rollins recently remarked that Phillies fans are front runners. He figured he wouldn’t get booed because nobody would be at the stadium since the Phillies have been in second place.

Here are the pitching matchups:

Tuesday: Pedro Martinez (4-3, 4.97) vs. Jamie Moyer (11-7, 3.54)

Wednesday: Johan Santana (12-7, 2.64) vs. Kyle Kendrick (11-7, 4.87)

Phillies vs. Mets in 2008:

Pat Burrell: .250, 1 HR, 2 RBI

Ryan Howard: .200, 3 HR, 9 RBI

Jimmy Rollins: .229, 0 HR, 4 RBI, 3 SB

Chase Utley: .240, 5 HR, 9 RBI, 1 SB

Shane Victorino: .317, 2 HR, 4 RBI, 1 SB

Mets vs. Phillies in 2008:

Carlos Beltran: .154, 1 HR, 7 RBI, 4 SB

Ryan Church: .333, 0 HR, 4 RBI

Carlos Delgado: .204, 2 HR, 7 RBI

Jose Reyes: .268, 2 HR, 7 RBI, 8 SB

David Wright: .327, 1 HR, 12 RBI, 5 SB