• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers

Maine, Mets play home opener against Phillies

Apr 9, 2007 - 1:36 PM Philadelphia (1-5) at NY Mets (4-2) 1:10 pm EDT

FLUSHING, New York (Ticker) -- If pitching was the foremost concern of the New York Mets entering this season, the first week of the season suggests that worry may have been unnecessary.

The Mets look to continue their string of strong starting pitching when they host the Philadelphia Phillies in the home opener on Monday at Shea Stadium.

New York's primary weakness entering the season appeared to be the depth of their rotation. However, Mets' starters are 4-1 with a 1.41 ERA in 38 1/3 innings.

Conversely, the Mets have struggled offensively over the past two games, scoring just five runs after they had outscored their opponents, 31-3, in the first four games of the season. The Mets look to rebound against a struggling Phillies team that has surrendered at least five runs in four of its six games.

John Maine (1-0) allowed one hit in seven scoreless innings against St. Louis in his first start of the season on Wednesday, a 10-0 victory. The 25-year-old righthander is 3-0 with a 1.96 ERA in three career starts against Philadelphia.

The Mets are looking to win their fourth straight home opener.

Philadelphia hope to rebound from consecutive losses to Florida. The Phillies drew 11 walks but stranded 14 baserunners in their 6-4 defeat Sunday, falling to 1-5 for the third time in four seasons and the second year in a row.

The Phillies will send Cole Hamels (0-0) to the mound on Monday. Hamels threw seven scoreless innings in his 2007 debut, a 3-2 loss in 11 innings to Atlanta on Wednesday, allowing four hits while striking out eight.

Hamels was outstanding in his lone start against the Mets last year, throwing eight innings and giving up four hits with nine strikeouts as the Phillies crushed New York, 13-0, on August 14.

Philadelphia has not won a series at Shea since taking two of three contests between August 30-September 1, 2005.