Phillies vs. Mets: Live Stream, Injuries, Pitching Matchups and Fantasy Preview

Before the 2012 Major League Baseball season started, if someone told you the Philadelphia Phillies and New York Mets would be playing a series in July with one of them in second place and the other in last place in the National League East, most people would have believed you. 

No one would have told you that the Mets would be in second place and the Phillies would be in last place, however. 

The Phillies are doing all they can to stay afloat right now. Injuries, age and poor performances from a lot of their stars have done a number on this team. They need some kind of return to normalcy soon if they want to stay in the race. 

The Mets are in the midst of a rebuilding process, though they have so many players firing on all cylinders right now that they look a lot better than they really are. 

Where: Citi Field in Queens, NY

When: July 3-5

Watch: Comcast SportsNet (Philadelphia); SNY TV (New York)

Live Stream: MLB.tv

Injury Report (via CBS Sports)

Philadelphia Phillies

60-day DL: RP Jose Contreras (Elbow), RP Justin De Fratus (Elbow)

15-day DL: RP David Herndon (Elbow), 1B Ryan Howard (Achilles), C Brian Schneider (Ankle), RP Michael Stutes (Elbow), SP Roy Halladay (Shoulder), 1B Laynce Nix (Calf)

New York Mets

7-day DL: OF Jason Bay (Concussion)

15-day DL: OF Mike Baxter (Shoulder), RP Frank Francisco (Oblique)

60-day DL: SP Mike Pelfrey (Elbow)

Pitching Matchups

Tuesday: Vance Worley (4-4, 2.92 ERA) vs. Jonathon Niese (6-3, 3.55 ERA)

Wednesday: Cliff Lee (0-5, 4.13 ERA) vs. Chris Young (2-1, 3.30 ERA)

Thursday: Cole Hamels (10-4, 3.08 ERA) vs. R.A. Dickey (12-1, 2.15 ERA)

Fantasy Studs

Cole Hamels, SP, Philadelphia Phillies

I am going with a pitching-heavy fantasy list for you, because I don't trust either offense to produce a lot in this series. Plus, it helps when you have some of the arms going in this series that these two teams do. 

Hamels has been the most consistent pitcher for the Phillies all season. The team is reportedly exploring trade options for the 28-year-old lefty, so he will have even more eyes on him than usual. 

Going against a weak Mets lineup, don't be shocked to see Hamels approach double-digit strikeout numbers in Thursday's game. 

R.A. Dickey, SP, New York Mets

Who better to challenge Hamels for best pitcher in this series than the knuckleballer who will be going against him?

Dickey has excelled this season despite no one really being able to pinpoint how he is doing it. We know he throws a knuckleball and somehow seems to command the pitch like no one in history. Beyond that, his season has been bafflingly beautiful to watch. 

Considering the Phillies lineup isn't much better than the Mets', Dickey should have one of his patented seven-inning, 10-strikeout performances. 

Prediction

The Phillies are a sinking ship right now. This could be the series where everything completely blows up for them, though I don't see it coming to that as they will steal a game in New York. 

Mets win series, 2-1

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