Philadelphia @ New York preview

Last Meeting ( Sep 24, 2011 ) Philadelphia 1, NY Mets 2

THE STORY: The Philadelphia Phillies are struggling as they head into the postseason. Sure, many teams envy their position, but a season-worst six-game losing skid still raises concerns in the City of Brotherly Love. After Philadelphia's Cole Hamels matches up with veteran knuckleballer R.A Dickey in the first game of Saturday's day-night doubleheader, the Phillies will send Kyle Kendrick to the mound to oppose New York's Dillon Gee in the second half of the twin bill. The Mets won for just the third time in 12 games with an 8-6 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals on Thursday.

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

PITCHING MATCHUP: Phillies RH Kyle Kendrick (8-6, 3.04 ERA) vs. Mets RH Dillon Gee (12-6, 4.48 ERA).

Kendrick has pitched well since Charlie Manuel re-inserted him back into the starting rotation. The 27-year-old Houston native scattered four hits over six scoreless innings in his last outing against the Washington Nationals on Tuesday. Kendrick has yielded a total of just one run and six hits without walking a batter in his last two starts. He has struggled against the Mets, losing six of 10 career decisions, including his recent effort on Aug. 24 when he permitted six runs in four innings of work in a 7-4 loss.

After a blazing start to his rookie season, Gee is searching for his first victory in nearly one month. The 25-year-old Texan struggled with his control in his last outing, issuing five walks to rapidly raise his pitch count. Trouble quickly ensued as he allowed four runs in just 4 1/3 innings and the Atlanta Braves went on to post a 7-5 triumph. Gee has split two decisions against Philadelphia - with his most recent outing leaving a lot to be desired. He permitted eight runs on seven hits with six walks in 3 2/3 innings as the Phillies cruised to a 10-0 triumph.

ABOUT THE PHILLIES (98-58): Philadelphia was downright listless as it was on the wrong end of a four-game home sweep by the Washington Nationals. How bad was it Thursday? Carlos Ruiz went 3-for-4, and the rest of the team went 1-for-27 in its 6-1 loss to the Washington Nationals. The "one" was a two-out double in the ninth inning by John Mayberry Jr., who was promptly brought home by Ruiz's RBI single. Chase Utley struggled on the 10-game homestand, collecting six hits in 31 at-bats. He hasn't fared too well versus Dickey, going 2-for-8 in his career. The Phillies were once again without Ryan Howard (bursitis) and Hunter Pence (knee), while Placido Polanco was given the day off to rest.

ABOUT THE METS (74-82): Collins' club looked like it was limping to yet another loss before its six-run outburst in the ninth inning damaged the Cardinals' postseason plans. The late rally was the Mets' largest comeback since they scored five runs in a 6-5 triumph over the Chicago Cubs on May 17, 2007. Willie Harris began the frame with a walk and capped it with a two-out, two-run single to give the Mets the lead. Ruben Tejada had a two-run double in the ninth to collect his sixth multi-hit game in nine contests. Jose Reyes went 1-for-4 on Thursday to see his batting average fall to .329. He trails only Milwaukee's Ryan Braun (.330) in the National League batting race. Reyes has fared well versus Hamels, going 12-for-37 in his career.

FINAL PITCH: "When you go to work you should go to work hard. I think (Thursday) shows these guys in this locker room care about each other and we want to win." - Harris.