Philadelphia @ New York preview

Last Meeting ( Jul 15, 2011 ) Philadelphia 7, NY Mets 2

THE STORY: The Philadelphia Phillies opened the second half of the season in a similar manner to the way they closed the first. After driving in four runs in a 14-1 rout of the Atlanta Braves on Sunday, John Mayberry Jr. established a career high with five RBIs in a 7-2 victory over the host New York Mets. Philadelphia will vie for its 14th win in 20 games when it sends Cole Hamels to the mound Saturday. Jonathon Niese will provide the opposition for New York, which has dropped three in a row and four of its last five. The Phillies have won seven of the 10 meetings between the National League East rivals this season.

TV: 4:10 p.m. ET, FOX

PITCHING MATCHUP: Phillies LH Cole Hamels (11-4, 2.32 ERA) vs. Mets LH Jonathon Niese (8-7, 3.88).

Hamels has won two in a row and permitted only three runs in his last three outings. The 2008 World Series MVP allowed only one run on three hits as the Phillies routed the Braves on Sunday. Hamels has struggled mightily against the Mets with a 3-9 mark - although he has split a pair of meetings this season. Niese has won five of his last seven decisions, although he struggled while making his first career relief appearance Sunday. He allowed two runs on as many hits in one-third of an inning in a 4-2 loss to the San Francisco Giants. Niese rebounded from a pair of losses in April to the Phillies to toss 6 1/3 solid innings in a 9-5 victory over Philadelphia on May 29.

ABOUT THE PHILLIES (58-34): Raul Ibanez belted his fourth homer in six games Friday. The veteran has struggled against Niese, going 2-for-13 in his career - although he did belt a solo homer. Philadelphia placed All-Star third baseman Placido Polanco on the disabled list with inflammation in his lower back, but welcomed back Ryan Madson. The towering reliever, who had been sidelined with a bruised hand, struck out two of the three batters he faced Friday. Closer Antonio Bastardo retired the side in order in the ninth Friday. He has allowed only one hit in his last 48 at-bats.

ABOUT THE METS (46-46): Carlos Beltran blasted a solo homer and scored on a wild pitch, but that was all the offense the Mets could muster Friday. The subject of constant trade rumors, Beltran has belted three career homers in 36 career at-bats against Hamels. Mets manager Terry Collins noted that while he intends to use a closer-by-committee approach, Jason Isringhausen was expected to be the likely choice to fill the role left vacant by the trade of Francisco Rodriguez to the Milwaukee Brewers. Righthander Ryota Igarashi was promoted from Triple A Buffalo to fill Rodriguez's roster spot, but he promptly surrendered a bases-clearing triple to Mayberry in the eighth inning Friday.

FINAL PITCH: Mets third baseman David Wright began a minor-league rehab assignment in Class A St. Lucie on Friday. He had a double and scored a run against Lakeland in a Florida State League game. Wright has been sidelined since he went on the 15-day disabled list May 16 with a stress fracture in his lower back. He is expected to return to the Mets by next weekend.