(My Sportsbook) - A bitter NL East rivalry commences this evening in South Philadelphia, where the Phillies will host the despised New York Mets for the first of three straight games at Citizens Bank Park.

In each of the past two years, the Phillies have beaten out the Mets down the stretch for the National League East crown, and last season's surge launched Philadelphia to its first World Series title in 28 years. Players on both sides have been involved in a healthy mix of trash talk over the years, and Friday the teams will get together for the first time this season.

New York won 11 of the 18 matchups with Philadelphia a year ago, including six of nine as the guest.

The Phillies will try to get back on the winning track after having their five-game winning streak come to an end with Wednesday's 4-1 loss to the Washington Nationals in the finale of a three-game set at Citizens Bank Park. Philadelphia starter Brett Myers (1-2) lasted six innings on the hill and allowed three runs on eight hits and three walks with as many strikeouts over six innings.

Shane Victorino provided the Phillies' offense with a solo home run in the first inning, while Jimmy Rollins and Ryan Howard had two hits apiece in defeat. The Phils were attempting to sweep a divisional foe for a second consecutive series after winning three in a row against the Florida Marlins last weekend.

Phillies righty Chan Ho Park gets the ball tonight and is still searching for his first win in a Philadelphia uniform. He has recorded four no-decisions in four appearances (3 starts) and totes a 7.16 earned run average.

Park, who has allowed four or more runs in his last three trips to the hill, previously toed the rubber on Saturday in a 6-4 win at Florida. He was reached for four runs and five hits over a season-high seven innings and struck out five batters. The Phils are 3-0 in Park's last three starts.

In 15 career games, nine of which have been starts, against the Mets, Park is 5-3 with a 2.44 earned run average.

New York has been struggling as of late and will continue its tour against NL East foes this evening. The Mets, who have lost two straight and seven of 10, are in the midst of 13 consecutive games versus division foes. The Mets took two of three from Washington last weekend and recently dropped two of three versus Florida.

In Wednesday's 4-3 loss to the Marlins at brand-new Citi Field, the Mets were cursed again by their bullpen, as set-up man J.J. Putz (1-2) blew a solid outing from starter Johan Santana by allowing two runs on a Cody Ross single in the eighth inning to suffer the loss. Santana gave up two runs on five hits with three walks and seven strikeouts in seven innings of work for the no- decision.

New York spent substantial money this offseason on Putz and fiery closer Francisco Rodriguez to shore up its highly-publicized bullpen woes. It certainly didn't pay off for Jerry Manuel's ballclub in the finale with the Marlins.

The Mets, who will visit Philadelphia for three games before two-game sets against the Braves and Phillies, will send Mike Pelfrey to the hill in Friday's series opener. Pelfrey will take the first crack at the Phillies and is 2-0 with a 6.32 earned run average through three starts this season.

Pelfrey last took the mound Saturday versus Washington and recorded the win with 5 2/3 innings of two-run ball, while allowing six hits and walking three batters. The right-hander has lasted at least five innings in each start this season, but has been reached for no less than two runs in all of those outings.

He will try to even his career mark against the Phillies, as Pelfrey sports a 1-2 mark and a 4.09 ERA in four career starts in this series.