New York @ Philadelphia preview

Last Meeting ( Jul 5, 2012 ) Philadelphia 5, NY Mets 6

Dominance at home helped the Philadelphia Phillies put a stranglehold on the National League East for five consecutive seasons. While the Phillies’ run of division titles will end in 2012, they are at least playing better at Citizens Bank Park. Philadelphia is 14-6 in its past 20 home games since losing seven in a row at home in July. The Mets, who begin a three-game series in Philadelphia on Tuesday, have dropped seven of their past 10 games to fall into fourth in the East, two games behind Philadelphia.

Victories have been hard to come by lately for each starting pitcher in the series opener. New York’s Chris Young is 1-5 with a 5.11 ERA in eight post All-Star break starts. Philadelphia’s Vance Worley is 2-5 in his past 10 outings with a 5.60 ERA. The Phillies have won seven of their past nine and are only six games below .500. New York snapped a six-game losing streak with a pair of weekend victories over the Astros.

TV: 7:05 p.m. ET, SNY (New York), PHL 17 (Philadelphia).

PITCHING MATCHUP: New York RH Chris Young (3-7, 4.33 ERA) vs. Philadelphia RH Vance Worley (6-9, 4.06)

Starting with a loss to Philadelphia on July 4, Young has dropped six of seven decisions. The right-hander did pitch well in his last outing Tuesday against Colorado, striking out nine and allowing two earned runs in seven innings. Left-handed batters are hitting .304 off Young this season.

Worley’s last victory came Aug. 1 against Washington. In four starts since, Worley is 0-3 and has surrendered four earned runs or more three different times. He gave up two earned runs on eight hits in six innings Wednesday against Cincinnati.

WALK-OFFS

1. An MRI on the right shoulder of New York 2B Daniel Murphy was negative. Murphy, who injured the shoulder in an eighth-inning at-bat Sunday, may be able to play Tuesday.

2. Philadelphia OF Domonic Brown on Saturday and Sunday missed his first two games since being called up July 31 with a sore left knee. The injury is not considered serious.

3. New York leads the season series 8-4.