Philadelphia @ New York preview
Citi Field
Last Meeting ( Sep 24, 2011 ) Philadelphia 3, NY Mets 6
THE STORY: They are wearing the same uniforms, but they sure don't look like the National League East champion Philadelphia Phillies. Mired in a season-worst eight-game losing skid, the Phillies will look to salvage the finale of a four-game series with the rival New York Mets on Sunday at Citi Field. Reigning NL Cy Young Award winner Roy Halladay will look to stop the streak before it reaches nine, which would be the team's longest run of futility since an 11-game slide from Sept. 4-14, 1999. Mike Pelfrey will provide the opposition for New York.
TV: 2:10 p.m. ET, WPHL (Philadelphia), WPIX (New York)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Phillies RH Roy Halladay (18-6, 2.41 ERA) vs. Mets RH Mike Pelfrey (7-12, 4.58 ERA)
Halladay just couldn't get untracked in his last start. The veteran hurler matched his previous four-start total by allowing four runs and had a season-high four walks in a 4-3 loss to the St. Louis Cardinals on Monday. Halladay has taken the Mets to task in his career, winning eight of 10 decisions - including a pair of outings this season. In those April starts, he allowed just one run on 13 hits in the 16 total innings.
Pelfrey will look for his first win in over one month when he takes the mound on Sunday. The ninth overall pick of the 2005 draft, Pelfrey yielded five runs on 10 hits in six innings in a no-decision against the Cardinals on Tuesday. Pelfrey does own a winning record (7-6) against the Phillies, but has allowed a gaudy 5.08 ERA in the process. This season, he has dropped two games to Philadelphia while settling for a no-decision in a pair of others.
ABOUT THE PHILLIES (98-60): Charlie Manuel admitted that he doesn't have the answers, and that's not a comforting stance for a team heading into the postseason. “I’m sitting there watching it. Don’t know what I can do about it,” he said. “If you want to know the truth, our team’s out of sync, definitely out of focus, and we’re not playing." The team welcomed back both Ryan Howard and Hunter Pence on Saturday. Howard returned from a six-game absence due to bursitis in his ankle and heel, while Pence started for the first time in four games due to a sore knee. Pence looked shaky in the outfield in the nightcap, as he dropped a ball that opened the floodgates in the 6-3 defeat. As for Howard, he is 15-for-41 (.366) in his career against Pelfrey.
ABOUT THE METS (76-82): By winning the first three games of this set, New York has closed the gap in the season series. The Mets will vie for their eighth win in 18 games against the Phillies in 2011 on Sunday. Jose Reyes (.330) now trails Milwaukee Brewers stud Ryan Braun (.331) in the race for the batting title. The speedy Reyes did not play in Saturday's nightcap, while Braun went 2-for-3 to lead the Brewers to a 6-4 win over the Florida Marlins. Reyes has fared well against Halladay, recording 11 hits in 26 career at-bats (.423). Conversely, David Wright is just 3-for-21 in his career with 11 strikeouts versus Halladay.
FINAL PITCH: "You lose eight in a row, people are going to panic. But I'm not worried. We haven't had our full lineup out there guys, relax. We haven't had one through eight." - Philadelphia outfielder Shane Victorino.