Philadelphia Phillies vs New York Mets | Preview, Odds, Free Pick | Sportsbookbuzz.com

Philadelphia Phillies (26-19) at New York Mets (24-23)
7 :10 PM ET on MLBTV
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Starting Pitchers
PHI: C. Hamels (5-2, 3.92)
NYM: M. Pelfrey (6-1, 2.86)

The New York Mets will try to sweep the series and gain some ground on the NL East leading Philadelphia Phillies in the final game of a three-game set on Thursday at Citi Field in Flushing, New York.

The Mets have won four of five since returning from a 2-6 road trip, with two wins against the Yankees and handing the Phillies two consecutive shut outs. Philadelphia stranded 13 runners as it lost 8-0 in the opener on Tuesday, and then followed with a 5-0 loss on Wednesday, in a game where they did not advance a runner to third until there was one out in the sixth, and then failed to plate a single run. The Mets Rod Barajas had a two-run double and a sacrifice fly and Jose Reyes had his fourth straight multi-hit game driving in two runs and a solo homer in the third for the win.

New York will go with Mike Pelfrey on the mound in game three. The Mets put out their initial rotation for Week 8 on Sunday and due to a banged up rotation, Pelfrey had to be moved up. He was slated to start against the Brewers this weekend. Too bad he is 1-1 with a 2.84 ERA in two starts against Milwaukee. Now the righty will have to face the Phillies. A team that rocked him for six runs and eight hits in his only start against them this season. It’s been his only awful outing in 2010. Pelfrey is 4-3 with a 5.43 ERA in 10 career outings against Philadelphia.

The Phillies will counter with lefty Cole Hamels. The 26-year old has continued to cruise through four starts with three wins yielding just seven runs over 26 2/3 innings in May, and was outstanding during Friday’s win over the Red Sox. In seven innings, he gave up one earned run– a solo home run by Victor Martinez on three hits. Hamels walked one while striking out eight in a 5-1 win. The 2002 1^st round draft pick’s only blemish in his last four was a no-decision back on May 4 versus the Cardinals, where he went eight innings before St Louis ended it in the 10^th by a final of 2-1. Hamels is 2-4 with a 4.12 ERA in his career against the Mets.

Odds makers have the Phillies as –1-½ – favorites with a run total of 8.

The Phillies mustered only seven hits in their fourth straight loss. They are hitting .199 (51 for 256) in their last eight games and have been outscored 37-15. New York has now moved above .500 (24-23) for the first time since May 13.

The Mets seem to be on a roll with the offense and the bullpen clicking at the same time. I expect more of the same in the series finale, as the Mets sweep the Phillies and the UNDER to move within two of the top spot in the division.

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