New York @ Philadelphia preview

Last Meeting ( Sep 9, 2018 ) Philadelphia 4, NY Mets 6

The Philadelphia Phillies' struggles against their National League East rivals have gone a long way toward dimming their bids for both a division title and wild-card berth. The Phillies have dropped 10 of their 16 meetings with the New York Mets heading into the opener of the teams' final series of the season Monday in Philadelphia.

Cesar Hernandez homered for the second straight game in Philadelphia's 6-4 setback to Miami on Sunday, giving him 12 hits to go along with eight RBIs and four runs scored in his last eight contests. The 28-year-old Venezuelan is 19-for-65 against the Mets this season and is a stellar 7-for-11 lifetime versus Tuesday starter Zack Wheeler. While the free-falling Phillies have dropped 10 of 14 in September to fall 6 1/2 games behind division-leading Atlanta, the Mets had won 10 of 13 this month before losing back-to-back interleague contests at Boston. Michael Conforto recorded a run-scoring double on Sunday to give him 18 hits and 16 RBIs in September heading into an encounter with Jake Arrieta, against whom he is just 1-for-7 in his career.

TV: 7:05 p.m. ET, SNY (New York), NBCS Philadelphia

PITCHING MATCHUP: Mets RH Zack Wheeler (11-7, 3.23 ERA) vs. Phillies RH Jake Arrieta (10-9, 3.66)

Wheeler improved to 8-1 with a 1.32 ERA in his last 10 starts on Wednesday after scattering four hits and striking out seven in eight innings of a 13-0 romp over Miami. The 28-year-old has faced Philadelphia on one occasion this season and came away with a no-decision on July 9 after permitting three runs and seven hits in 4 2/3 frames. Former Met Asdrubal Cabrera (1-for-10) and Odubel Herrera (1-for-9) have struggled mightily versus Wheeler.

Arrieta came away his second no-decision in three starts on Tuesday after yielding three runs and as many hits in five innings against Washington. The 2015 NL Cy Young Award winner has posted a 1.94 ERA in nine career starts versus New York, although he is 0-1 this season despite producing a pair of strong outings. Arrieta settled for a no-decision on May 11 despite scattering five hits over 7 1/3 scoreless innings before taking the hard-luck loss on Aug. 18 after allowing one run and four hits in six frames of a 3-1 setback.

WALK-OFFS

1. Philadelphia OF Rhys Hoskins has recorded five multi-hit performances in his last eight games.

2. New York OF Brandon Nimmo is 1-for-9 in his last four contests, although the lone hit was a homer.

3. Phillies 1B Carlos Santana has registered 20 hits and 12 runs scored in his last 17 games.

PREDICTION: Mets 4, Phillies 2