Philadelphia @ New York preview

Last Meeting ( Aug 26, 2013 ) Philadelphia 2, NY Mets 1

The New York Mets host the Philadelphia Phillies on Tuesday in the second contest of a four-game series and are undoubtedly still stinging from Monday's news surrounding Matt Harvey. The ace right-hander, who was the National League starter in the All-Star Game, has a partially torn ulnar collateral ligament in his pitching elbow and could face Tommy John surgery. A decision on which recovery path to take is expected in the coming weeks.

The Phillies took the opener 2-1 on Monday to win for the seventh time in their last nine games while handing the Mets their fifth straight loss. Philadelphia is 12-23 since hitting the All-Star break 48-48, but 7-4 under interim manager Ryne Sandberg. Rookie third baseman Cody Asche delivered a two-run triple Monday - his first career three-base hit - and has an eight-game hitting streak with two-hit contests in his last three.

TV: 7:10 p.m. ET, PHL 17 (Philadelphia), SNY (New York)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Phillies RH Kyle Kendrick (10-10, 4.51 ERA) vs. Mets LH Jon Niese (5-6, 4.03)

Kendrick's struggles continue as he allowed four runs and eight hits in five innings before Philadelphia rallied in the ninth inning for a 5-4 victory over Colorado on Thursday. The Houston native, who turned 29 on Monday, is 3-6 with a 6.62 ERA in his last 10 starts, including 1-4 with a 7.06 ERA in his last six outings. Kendrick is 8-7 with a 3.54 ERA in 21 games (15 starts) against the Mets, with Monday's starting lineup 9-for-43 against him.

Niese has been a different pitcher since recovering from a partially torn rotator cuff, going 2-0 with a 2.84 ERA in three starts while totaling a whopping 23 strikeouts in 19 innings. The 26-year-old struck out nine for the second straight game and allowed one run in seven innings in the Mets' 4-1 setback to Atlanta on Wednesday. Niese is 5-6 with a 3.45 ERA in 14 starts against the Phillies with John Mayberry Jr. (three homers and seven RBIs in 31 at-bats) hitting him well.

WALK-OFFS

1. Philadelphia improved to 8-2 in its last 10 games at New York's Citi Field while winning for only the second time in its last 15 road contests.

2. The Mets have scored six runs during its five-game losing streak.

3. Phillies OF Domonic Brown (Achilles) did not start for the second straight game and popped out as a pinch hitter in the ninth inning Monday.

PREDICTION: Mets 3, Phillies 2