Philadelphia @ New York preview

Last Meeting ( Jun 2, 2014 ) NY Mets 11, Philadelphia 2

Philadelphia Phillies slugger Ryan Howard capped a tumultuous week that included a three-game benching with a two-run homer to provide the spark in a 4-2 victory over Arizona on Sunday, but he was not in a celebratory mood. "Do you want to trade places?" Howard asked the media after Sunday's game. "Do you want to see what it’s like? No, you don’t." Howard and the Phillies open a seven-game road trip versus division rivals when they visit the New York Mets on Monday night.

New York went 5-5 on a 10-game road trip to kick off the second half of the season, winning four of its final six games and allowing a total of five runs in the four victories. Despite sitting five games under .500, the Mets are still within striking range of a wild-card slot after earning a four-game split with NL Central-leading Milwaukee. New York has won six of the nine meetings with the Phillies this season and went 4-1 in a five-game series at Philadelphia from May 29-June 2.

TV: 7:10 p.m. ET, CSN Philadelphia. SNY (New York)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Phillies RH A.J. Burnett (6-9, 3.86 ERA) vs. Mets RH Bartolo Colon (9-8, 4.03)

Since winning back-to-back starts for the only time this season on April 27 and May 3, Burnett is only 4-8 in his last 15 turns despite allowing three runs or fewer 10 times. He did not factor in the decision last time out despite blanking San Francisco on four hits over eight innings and has won only once since June 20. Burnett struck out a season-high 11 but gave up five runs over seven innings in a no-decision versus the Mets on May 30.

With the trade deadline looming, Colon could be making his final start with the Mets, who have made no secret of their willingness to deal the 41-year-old veteran. Colon won for the first time in a month at Seattle on Wednesday, permitting two runs on three hits over 7 1/3 innings. Colon, who beat the Phillies on June 2 with seven innings of two-run ball, is 4-4 with a 2.81 ERA and 1.01 WHIP in eight home starts.

WALK-OFFS

1. Mets 1B Lucas Duda had three homers and six RBIs in the four-game series in Milwaukee.

2. Howard has 40 homers and 114 RBIs in 136 games against New York.

3. Mets 2B Daniel Murphy is 7-for-12 over his last three games.

PREDICTION: Mets 4, Phillies 3