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Phillies-Mets Preview

May 24, 2010 - 8:23 PM By SANTOSH VENKATARAMAN STATS Senior Writer

Philadelphia (26-17) at New York (22-23), 7:10 p.m. EDT

The Philadelphia Phillies didn't fare well against a knuckleballer in their last game. They won't have to wait long to face another.

The Phillies will get their first look at R.A. Dickey when they begin a three-game series against the New York Mets on Tuesday night at Citi Field.

Philadelphia (26-17) was baffled by Tim Wakefield on Sunday in an 8-3 loss to Boston, managing five hits in eight scoreless innings against the 43-year-old pitcher.

"When you haven't seen it, basically what we were doing was popping it up," manager Charlie Manuel told the Phillies' official website. "It wasn't like we were striking out a lot, we were popping balls in the air, and at times, we weren't very aggressive with it."

Manuel said the Phillies had not seen a knuckleballer since Wakefield pitched against them on June 26, 2009.

Philadelphia will get a look at another one with Dickey (0-0, 3.00 ERA) filling in for John Maine, who is out indefinitely with tendinitis in his right rotator cuff. Dickey doesn't believe Wakefield's effort necessarily will be an advantage for him.

"I don't think it has much to do with my outing," Dickey said. "It's good that he threw a shutout instead of giving up 15, I'll tell you that."

Dickey said he's been tutored by Wakefield in the past, and planned to call him for advice before this outing. The right-hander gave up two runs, six hits and walked five in six innings during his Mets debut Wednesday, and did not get a decision in a 5-3 loss at Washington.

"R.A. throws a little harder than Wakefield," Mets manager Jerry Manuel said. "Whether that makes a lot of difference or not, I don't know."

New York (22-23) is feeling good after taking two of three at home over the weekend from the Yankees. Closer Francisco Rodriguez worked his way in and out of trouble in both victories, throwing a total of 49 pitches to earn saves Saturday and Sunday.

"You see the atmosphere around here," pitcher Johan Santana told the Mets' official website. "Everybody's happy. Everybody's excited."

The Mets' Jason Bay homered twice in Sunday's 6-4 win, increasing his total to three. He's 10 for 15 with eight runs in his last four games.

The Phillies, though, also should feel confident after winning 13 of their last 16 against the Mets, including two of three at home from April 30-May 2.

Philadelphia has won six of the last eight starts by Jamie Moyer (5-3, 4.30) against New York.

The 47-year-old gave up five runs over six innings in an 11-5 victory over the Mets on May 2 to start a string of three straight wins. That ended Wednesday when he allowed two runs over seven innings in a 4-1 loss to the Chicago Cubs.

Mets third baseman David Wright is 21 for 50 with four homers in his career against Moyer. However, Wright is hitting .247 with a major league-high 32 strikeouts since May 3.

Second baseman Luis Castillo was scratched Sunday because of a sore left foot that's been bothering him for a while, and is day to day. He's hitting .250 with 11 RBIs this year.