Mets and Phillies Battle in Crucial Series

The final three games between the Mets and the Phillies begin tonight at Shea Stadium with the post-All Star game ace Brett Meyers (8-10, 5-1 since break) versus Mets righty Mike Pelfrey (13-8). With the Phillies only three games back of the Mets, they are poised to rise again in the East, or the Mets could put a division clinch in sight.The Mets are coming off of a sweep of the Brewers with hot bats and solid starting pitching. However, neither starting pitching or batting are the question of the game tonight, but it is whether the beaten and marred bullpen of the Mets can keep up late in the game. On the birght side for Mets fans, Pelfrey has pitched two complete games out of his last three starts and has won 11 out his last 13 decisions. In the other dugout, the Phils have got to be fired up to take the Mets down for the second year in a row, and they can't complain about starting the series with Brett Meyers. The only question is, will we see the pre-All Star break Meyers, or the post? ... (link)