(Best E Casino) - The Phillies trailed the Mets by seven games in mid- September of last season before rallying to capture the National League East title. Needless to say, they are trying to keep it closer this year.

Trailing the Mets by a half-game for the division lead, Philadelphia and New York begin a two-game set tonight at Citizens Bank Park.

The Phillies used wins in each of their final eight games versus the Mets last year to help them overtake the club for the division crown on the season's final day. However, it is now New York that is enjoying success versus Philadelphia, having won five of the last six meetings while also going 5-2 this year in Philadelphia. The Mets have won nine of 13 versus the Phils overall this year.

A win by the Mets over Washington on August 13 moved the club into a tie with the Phillies, who lost to the Dodgers on that day, for first place in the NL East. New York took sole possession the following day and has held the division lead for the last 11 games.

The Mets have won 11 of their last 14 games, but dropped two in a row to the Astros before winning Monday's contest 9-1 to earn a split of the four-game series. Mike Pelfrey pitched his second consecutive complete game, while Carlos Delgado had a pair of three-run homers.

New York is now 39-24 under manager Jerry Manuel, who took over that role from Willie Randolph on June 17. The franchise begins an eight-game road trip tonight, but is just 32-34 as the visiting club this year.

If the Mets are to increase their lead over the Phils in the NL East, they will have to do so against a veteran hurler they have historically struggled against.

Jamie Moyer takes the hill for Philadelphia and is 6-4 with a 2.66 earned run average in 15 career starts versus New York. He is 1-1 with a 2.81 ERA in four starts against them this year, having not allowed more than three runs in any of those starts.

In fact, the 45-year-old lefty hasn't given up more than three runs in each of his last 14 starts. That includes a no-decision on Thursday versus Washington, as Moyer allowed two runs (1 earned) on five hits and three walks over 6 2/3 innings in his team's eventual 4-3 loss.

On the season, Moyer is 11-7 with a 3.54 ERA.

Though he is just 2-for-12 (.167) with a homer versus Moyer this year, Delgado is a lifetime .390 hitter against the veteran with eight homers and 17 RBI.

The Mets counter with Pedro Martinez, who himself allowed more than three runs for the first time in seven starts on Thursday versus Atlanta. Martinez got a no-decision after allowing four runs on seven hits over seven innings.

The righty is 4-3 with a 4.97 ERA this year and 8-5 with a 3.27 ERA in 23 games (19 starts) lifetime versus the Phils. He won his lone start against them this year.

The Phillies struggling offense awoke in a four-game home sweep of the Dodgers, as they outscored Los Angeles 27-5 in winning for the sixth time in seven games on their current nine-game homestand.

Jimmy Rollins entered Monday's finale in a 4-for-46 (.087) slump, but finished 3-for-3 with two RBI while falling a homer short of the cycle. Brett Myers, meanwhile, won for the fourth time in five decisions since being recalled from the minor leagues.

Rollins batted .346 (28-for-81) with six homers and 15 RBI versus the Mets last year in his MVP campaign, but is hitting just .229 (8-for-35) with four RBI against them this year.