Series Preview: Phillies at Metropolitans, 5/27-5/29

The financially strapped New York Metropolitans (23-26) will play host this weekend as the first place Phillies (31-19) come to town for a 3-game series.

In the opener, the Phillies will send veteran right-hander Roy Oswalt, who has a 1.50 ERA in 2 starts since returning from the disabled list, to the mound. The Metropolitans will counter with lefty Chris Capuano, who served up 4 homeruns in 5 1/3 innings against the Yankees last weekend.

Philadelphia has won 4 of the 6 meetings with New York this season.

Read ahead for details on the pitching match ups and other key stats for this series.

Friday, 7:10PM. Roy Oswalt (3-2, 2.77 ERA) vs. Chris Capuano (3-5, 5.36 ERA). In 14 career starts against the Metropolitans, Oswalt has a 6-5 record with a 3.33 ERA. In 4 road games this season, Oswalt is 2-1 with a 3.15 ERA. Carlos Beltran is 9-for-24 (.375 avg) with 2 doubles and a HR in his career against Oswalt. In 5 career games against the Phillies, Capuano is 0-2 with a 3.20 ERA. In 4 home starts this season, Capuano is 2-2 with a 5.04 ERA. In 10 starts this season, opponents have posted a .294 batting average against Capuano.

Saturday, 7:10PM. Cole Hamels (6-2, 3.06 ERA) vs. Mike Pelfrey (3-4, 5.37 ERA). In 14 career starts against the Metropolitans, Hamels has a 2-9 record with a 4.35 ERA. In 4 starts at Citi Field, Hamels is 0-3 with a 4.07 ERA and a .347 batting average against. Scott Hairston is 6-for-17 (.353 avg) with 2 doubles and 3 HR against Hamels in his career. In 15 career starts against the Phillies, Pelfrey has a 6-5 record with a 5.25 ERA. In his last 5 starts, the righty Pelfrey is 2-2 with a 3.98 ERA. Ryan Howard is 14-for-34 (.412 avg) with 2 doubles, 3 HR and 5 walks against Pelfrey.

Sunday, 1:10PM. Vance Worley (2-0, 2.14 ERA) vs. Jonathan Niese (3-5, 4.33 ERA). Worley held the Metropolitans scoreless for 6 innings when he faced them on April 29th. In 10 MLB appearances, opponents are batting .190 against Worley. Niese is 1-3 with a 3.73 ERA in 5 career starts against Philadelphia. In 25 career starts at Citi Field, Niese has a 6-9 record with a 4.23 ERA. Howard is 1-for-10 against the left-handed Niese in his career.

Placido Polanco is 11-for-27 (.407 avg) against the Metropolitans in 6 games this season.

Last season, Carlos Ruiz went 7-for-22 (.318 avg) at Citi Field. However, Ruiz is just 1-for-22 (.045 avg) in non-2010 games at the Metropolitans' current home.

Chase Utley's 26 homeruns against the Metropolitans are his most against any team.

In 16 games against the Phillies, Francisco Rodriguez has 10 saves and has never allowed a run.

Carlos Beltran is batting .342 in 22 home games this season. Beltran is 8-for-20 (.400 avg) with 4 HR in his career against Ryan Madson.

Jason Bay, who is batting .230 overall this season, has posted a .308 batting average in 11 home games.

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Photo- AP

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