New York @ Philadelphia Preview

Last Meeting ( Sep 21, 2013 ) NY Mets 5, Philadelphia 4

New York Mets third baseman David Wright is expected to get the day off Sunday, which is welcome news for the Philadelphia Phillies. Wright has homered in two straight games since returning from the disabled list, but manager Terry Collins plans to rest him before Monday's series in Cincinnati. The Mets are seeking a three-game sweep of the Phillies, who lost their third straight on Saturday when New York won 5-4 in a game called after seven innings because of rain.

Philadelphia is giving extensive playing time to several rookies, including third baseman Cody Asche and Cesar Hernandez, who has played both center field and second base. “He’s an interesting player, with his talent,” interim manager Ryne Sandberg said of Hernandez, who is hitting .365 over his last 15 games. The Mets are also playing with an eye toward next year, which explains why rookie Zack Wheeler has been shut down for the rest of the season after experiencing shoulder stiffness during his last start.

TV: 1:35 p.m. ET, SNY (New York), PHL17 (Philadelphia)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Mets RH Carlos Torres (3-5, 3.39 ERA) vs. Phillies LH Cliff Lee (14-6, 2.95)

With the Mets using a six-man rotation this week, Torres worked out of the bullpen on Wednesday against the Giants and struck out four over two scoreless innings. The 30-year-old had a career-high eight strikeouts against the Marlins last Saturday, when he yielded two runs over six frames in a 3-0 loss. He picked up the win against the Phillies on Aug. 29, allowing one run while striking out six over 6 2/3 innings.

Lee was outstanding against the Marlins last Monday, when he went 3-for-4 with a career-high four RBIs and surrendered two runs while striking out a season-high 14 batters over eight innings. “Heck of a game for Cliff Lee,” Sandberg said. “It was basically his show.” Lucas Duda is 6-for-18 with a home run against the 35-year-old, who is 6-2 with a 2.40 ERA in 11 career starts against the Mets.

WALK-OFFS

1. Mets RHP LaTroy Hawkins has tossed 11 straight scoreless innings and has not allowed a run in 22 of his last 24 games.

2. The Phillies are 10-66 when leading after six innings.

3. The season series is tied at 9-9 heading into the final meeting on Sunday.

PREDICTION: Phillies 5, Mets 1