New York (44-44) at Philadelphia (48-41)

Pedro Martinez has struggled in his last few starts, but a win against the NL East-leading Philadelphia Phillies could get him, and the New York Mets, heading in the right direction.

Martinez looks to lead the Mets to their third straight victory for the first time in more than a month Monday when they close a four-game series with the Phillies.

Philadelphia (48-41) leads the East by 2 1/2 games over second-place Florida and 3 1/2 over the third-place Mets (44-44), who will look to move above .500 for the first time since they were 30-29 on June 5. New York is also looking to win three in a row for the first time since May 27-29.

“We’ve just got to continue to play the way we’re playing right now,” Fernando Tatis said after Sunday’s 4-2 victory.

The Mets avoided a devastating loss Sunday thanks to Tatis’ two-run in the 12th inning that snapped a 2-all tie. The Mets were in line to get the win in regulation, but with two outs in the ninth inning, Philadelphia’s Jayson Werth hit a two-run shot off New York closer Billy Wagner—the only Mets player selected to the All-Star team.

To win this series, Martinez (2-2, 7.39 ERA) will have to bounce back after a rough stretch.

Martinez made one start in April before going on the disabled list with a left hamstring strain. He rejoined New York on June 3 and has since struggled, especially in his last three starts—going 0-2 with a 10.20 ERA. Martinez did not receive a decision on Wednesday against St. Louis after he allowed five runs and seven hits—including two home runs—in five innings of an 8-7 loss.

“I’m just going to continue to battle, to do what I can to help this team win a ballgame,” he told the Mets’ official Web site. “If I fall short, well I’m going to go home proudly, but I’m not going to quit. That would be the easiest way right now, and I’m not going to do that. I’m not going to let this team down.”

Martinez is 7-5 with a 3.48 ERA in 18 career starts against the Phillies. He’s winless in his last four starts against them going back to June 30, 2005, posting a 6.43 ERA in those outings.

New York center fielder Carlos Beltran went 3-for-6 with a home run and two RBIs on Sunday, and looks to build off that outing after going 2-for-27 (.074) with a double and two RBIs his previous seven games.

The Phillies once again failed to get much production from their offense Sunday, as they were 1-for-14 with runners in scoring position.

Philadelphia has dropped seven of its last eight at home, scoring 18 runs and batting just .180 in that span. All-Star second baseman Chase Utley has been a big reason for the offensive slump, as he’s 3-for-40 (.075) in his last 10 games at Citizen Bank Park—dropping his average from .350 to .282 in that span.

“I am definitely concerned about our hitting,” Phillies manager Charlie Manuel told the team’s official Web site. “We got guys that their averages are down, production’s down.”

Manuel hands the ball to Adam Eaton (3-6, 4.79) to close out the series. Eaton snapped a three-game losing streak Wednesday against the Braves. He pitched five innings, allowing two runs and five hits in 7-3 win.

The right-hander is 5-0 with a 3.29 ERA in nine starts against the Mets, but he hasn’t earned a decision in his last four starts against them.