Beasts of the East: Mets, Phils set to play two

Baseball Betting Lines

06/29/2007 - (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - National League East supremacy could be on the line this weekend, when the division-leading New York Mets visit the Philadelphia Phillies for a four-game series at Citizens Bank Park. The important set between division rivals kicks off today with a day-night doubleheader.

New York is three games ahead of Philadelphia in the division, but the Phillies are 4-3 against the Mets this season. The Mets, who have won five of their last six games overall, had the finale of a four-game series with St. Louis postponed on Thursday because of rain.

The Mets took two of three from the Cardinals, including Wednesday's 2-0 triumph in a rain-shortened affair at Shea Stadium. Tom Glavine collected the 297th victory of his career as he allowed one hit, struck out one and issued two walks through six innings. The game was called after 5 1/2 innings due to weather conditions.

David Wright hit a two-run homer and ended 1-for-1 with a walk for New York, which went 6-3 on its homestand and will open an 11-game road trip this afternoon in South Philadelphia. The Mets are 20-14 on the road in 2007.

New York will hand the ball to Orlando Hernandez in the first game. Hernandez is 3-3 with a 2.77 earned run average over 11 starts this season, but owns an 0-2 record in his last four trips to the mound.

The high-kicking right-hander last pitched on Saturday against the Oakland Athletics and did not post a decision. Hernandez hurled seven scoreless innings with seven K's and two walks in a 1-0 victory at Shea Stadium.

Hernandez faced the Phillies on June 6 this season and did not factor in the decision. He pitched six shutout innings of three-hit ball, but the bullpen imploded en route to a 4-2 setback. In four career starts against Philadelphia, "El Duque" is 0-1 with a 7.58 earned run average.

Countering for the Phillies this afternoon will be J.D. Durbin, who will make his Philadelphia debut after being claimed off waivers in early April. Durbin had a Spring Training stint with Minnesota before Arizona picked him up. He made one appearance with the D'backs on April 4 and was reached for seven runs in just two-thirds of an inning. He is 0-0 with a 94.50 ERA.

Durbin, who was selected in the second round of the 2000 First-Year Player Draft by Minnesota, was then waived by Arizona before Boston briefly picked him up. The Phillies then made a move on Durbin, who went 2-4 with a 4.55 earned run average in 10 starts with their Triple-A affiliate in Ottawa.

Durbin will make his second career start and sixth overall appearance at the major league level. He is 0-1 with a 14.63 ERA in five games (one start) in his career and will make his first-ever start against the Mets.

Philadelphia has won five of its last eight games, including Thursday's 8-7 win in 10 innings over the Cincinnati Reds in the finale of a three-game set at Citizens Bank Park.

Jimmy Rollins collected four hits, including the game-tying RBI triple in the eighth and the game-winning RBI single in the 10th. Chase Utley hit a pair two-run homers for Philadelphia, which is 21-18 at home this season. Reliever Clay Condrey tossed a scoreless 10th inning to collect the victory, while starter Adam Eaton was ripped for six hits and five runs in six innings.

Taking the ball for the Phillies in the nightcap will be ace Cole Hamels, who is 9-3 with a 3.80 ERA in 16 starts this season.

Hamels is 1-1 over the last four trips to the hill and did not factor in the outcome on June 24 against St. Louis. He lasted three innings because of a rain delay and gave up one run and three hits.

The lanky left-hander will take on New York for the third time this season and is 0-0 with a 3.46 ERA in two starts. He did not post a decision on April 9 after giving up three runs -- two earned -- in six innings of an 11-5 loss.

Hamels then faced the Mets again on June 7, surrendering three runs and 10 hits through seven innings of a 6-3 triumph. In three career starts against the Mets, Hamels is 1-0 with a 2.14 earned run average.

New York will counter with John Maine tonight and he will try to stretch his recent winning streak to three games. Maine, who is 8-4 with a 2.87 ERA in 15 starts this season, is riding a personal two-game winning streak.

In his last start on June 24 against Oakland, Maine pitched seven strong innings and gave up two runs in a 10-2 blowout of the Athletics.

The right-hander will take on Philadelphia for the third time this season and is 0-0 with a 3.08 earned run average in two starts. He first faced the Phillies on April 9 and did not factor in the outcome, allowing two runs in 4 2/3 innings of an 11-5 win.

He then squared off with the Phillies on June 7 and surrendered a pair of runs in seven innings of a 6-3 loss. In five career starts against Philly, Maine is 3-0 with a 2.40 earned run average.