Philadelphia @ New York preview

Last Meeting ( May 13, 2018 ) NY Mets 2, Philadelphia 4

The New York Mets have been shut out in back-to-back contests for the second time this season and own a disastrous 3-17 mark in their last 20 contests at Citi Field. The uphill climb for the Mets is a steep one on Monday as they encounter two stingy pitchers in a doubleheader to begin a four-game series against the visiting Philadelphia Phillies.

Philadelphia's Zach Eflin enters the opener with a 6-0 mark and 1.91 ERA in his last six outings, while fellow right-hander Aaron Nola - the probable starter for the nightcap - is 5-0 in his last seven trips to the mound. The surging Phillies saw their six-game winning streak halted in Pittsburgh on Sunday, with Nick Williams going deep in a 4-1 setback to mark the second time he's homered in the last four games. Brandon Nimmo led off the seventh inning with a single in Sunday's 9-0 setback to Tampa Bay to give him four hits to go along with six walks and four runs scored in his last five games. The Mets will look to channel the success they had against the Phillies when the National League East rivals met earlier this season, winning three of four contests after being rained out on April 2 and again on May 12.

TV: 7:40 p.m. ET, NBCS Philadelphia, SNY (New York)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Phillies RH Aaron Nola (11-2, 2.41 ERA) vs. Mets RH Corey Oswalt (0-1, 7.94)

Nola recorded his third win in as many trips to the mound and 14th quality start in his 16 outings on Wednesday after allowing one run in seven innings of a 4-1 triumph over Baltimore. The 25-year-old turned in a pretty strong outing against the Mets on May 13, yielding Yoenis Cespedes' solo homer as the lone run permitted in six frames of a 4-2 victory. Michael Conforto (3-for-10) has also gone deep against Nola and Asdrubal Cabrera is 4-for-11, but the hurler has flustered Devin Mesoraco (0-for-8).

Oswalt has yet to venture past four innings in either one of two starts with the Mets, as he yielded six runs on as many hits in 2 2/3 frames of an 8-2 setback at Miami on June 29 before allowing two runs in four innings at Toronto on Wednesday. The 24-year-old has permitted just 13 hits in his three outings this season, although three of those have left the park. Oswalt will be making his first start at Citi Field.

WALK-OFFS

1. NL East-leading Philadelphia is just 15-17 against division representatives.

2. New York is mired in a 14-series stretch without winning one.

3. Phillies CF Odubel Herrera went 5-for-13 with a homer, four RBIs and two runs scored in his last three games after going 2-for-37 with nine strikeouts in his previous nine.

PREDICTION: Phillies 3, Mets 2