Philadelphia @ New York preview

Last Meeting ( Jul 21, 2013 ) Philadelphia 0, NY Mets 5

The Philadelphia Phillies entered the All-Star break on a roll, climbing to the .500 mark and moving within striking distance of Atlanta for the lead in the National League East. Matters took a decided downturn in the second half as the Phillies lost 21 of 26 coming out of the break to torpedo any postseason hopes. Philadelphia has started to rebound, winning six of its last eight entering a four-game series at the division-rival New York Mets on Monday night.

New York's season-long struggles at home continued during a three-game sweep against the Detroit Tigers over the weekend. The Mets, who are tied with the Phillies for third place in the division. produced a total of five runs during their current four-game skid and the pitching staff was raked for 33 hits in the final two contests against the Tigers. Highly touted catcher Travis d'Arnaud, one of the hopes for the future, swatted his first major-league homer in Sunday's 11-3 loss.

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

PITCHING MATCHUP: Phillies LH Cliff Lee (10-6, 3.16 ERA) vs. Mets RH Zack Wheeler (6-2, 3.49)

Lee is searching for his first win since July 5, going 0-4 over his last six starts. He did not factor in the decision last time out against Colorado, giving up a pair of runs on nine hits over seven innings. It was the first time in eight outings that Lee permitted fewer than three runs, including a loss at the Mets on July 21 in which he surrendered three homers and five runs.

Wheeler won for the fifth time in six decisions in his last start, holding Atlanta to three runs in 6 2/3 innings after striking out 12 in six innings against San Diego in his previous outing. He matched the shortest outing of his brief career against Philadelphia on July 20, giving up two runs and seven hits in 4 2/3 innings. Wheeler has struggled at home with a 2-2 record and 5.67 ERA in five starts.

WALK-OFFS

1. Lee came within an out of a complete game in beating the Mets on April 9. He is 5-2 with a 2.55 ERA in 10 career starts versus New York.

2. Mets OF Marlon Byrd is 10-for-28 with a homer against Lee.

3. Phillies LF Darin Ruf has three homers and six RBIs during a five-game hitting streak.

PREDICTION: Phillies 3, Mets 2