New York @ Philadelphia preview

Last Meeting ( Apr 9, 2013 ) NY Mets 3, Philadelphia 8

Even though the Washington Nationals are favorites to win the World Series in many circles, don't count out the Philadelphia Phillies, who are healthy and heating up at the plate. The Phillies will try to keep their momentum going when they host the New York Mets on Wednesday in the rubber match of their three-game series. Ryan Howard, a notoriously slow starter, hit his first home run of the season - one of three players to do so - in Philadelphia's 8-3 victory Tuesday.

With Michael Young (.345) off to a hot start in his first season as a Phillie and Chase Utley (.345) seeing the ball well, Philadelphia appears to be set on offense, especially when catcher Carlos Ruiz is eligible to return April 28 following a 25-game suspension for violating Major League Baseball's substance abuse policy. Mets catcher John Buck homered for the second straight game Tuesday and has four of New York's 10 home runs.

TV: 7:05 p.m. ET, SNY (New York), TCN (Philadelphia)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Mets RH Jeremy Hefner (0-1, 1.50 ERA) vs. Phillies RH Kyle Kendrick (0-1, 7.94)

Hefner became a member of the starting rotation when it was learned that Johan Santana was lost for the season. Hefner allowed one run and five hits in six innings, but took the loss in the Mets' 7-5 setback to Miami on Friday. Hefner started 13 games in his rookie season of 2012 and was 4-6 with a 5.32 ERA. In his only start against the Phillies, Hefner did not retire a batter after allowing seven runs on six hits and a walk before being replaced in a 16-1 loss Sept. 20.

Kendrick retiring 13 of the first 16 batters he faced in his season opener, but allowed two runs in the fifth inning and three in the sixth in Philadelphia's 13-4 loss to Kansas City on Friday. The 28-year-old Houston native held the Mets to two runs over seven innings the last time he faced them in 2012 and is 5-7 lifetime with a 3.56 ERA in 18 games (12 starts) against New York. Kendrick has struggled against David Wright (11-for-31, two homers).

WALK-OFFS

1. Young, who fell a double short of the cycle Tuesday, and John Mayberry Jr. also hit their first home runs of the season Tuesday.

2. Ruiz was 1-for-3 in an extended spring training game Tuesday against New York Yankees right-hander Chien-Ming Wang.

3. The Phillies are 10-for-10 in stolen bases after Utley stole two Tuesday.

PREDICTION: Phillies 3, Mets 2