Hamels, Phillies look to rebound against Mets

Jun 1, 2014; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia Phillies catcher Carlos Ruiz (51) and starting pitcher Cole Hamels (35) walk together across the field to start a game against the New York Mets at Citizens Bank Park. The Mets won in the eleventh inning 4-3. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports

Cole Hamels has faced the New York Mets 29 times in his career and Tuesday night could be his last time as a member of the Philadelphia Phillies.  The Phillies are now open to shopping their prized lefty, but what they want in return for him might be too much to ask from other teams.

The southpaw is 7-14 lifetime against the Mets.  He faced them three times in 2014 already.  The Phillies lost all three of the matchups and seven of ten in the season series.  Hamels has a 3.86 ERA in 18.2 innings of work against the Mets.

Two first-place teams have been shut down by the three-time All Star in his last two starts.  The Phillies beat the Atlanta Braves and San Francisco Giants both 2-1 and the brilliant Hamels has peaked the interest of other teams with Thursday’s trade deadline rapidly approaching.  Of Hamels’ 34 strikeouts in July, 19 of them have come in his last 15 innings pitched.

The Mets, who are 6-5 since the All-Star Break, have won eight of nine at Citi Field.  Monday they got to Phillies starter A.J. Burnett early by posting four runs in the first.  In the fifth, catcher Travis d’Arnaud made things worse for Burnett with a three-run blast to give the Mets a 7-0 lead.

Philadelphia drafted d’Arnaud in the first round of the 2007 draft and he was traded to the Blue Jays along with two other players for Roy Halladay.  Against Philllies pitching this season, d’Arnaud has three extra-base hits, all of them came on Monday night.

Ryan Howard could find himself in the Phillies’ lineup given his numbers against Mets’ starter Dillon Gee.  Howard is batting .500 against Gee with six home runs, but he was 0-for-5 Monday.

Phillies shortstop Jimmy Rollins also has a .500 average against Gee with a homer and four RBIs.