By Jim Scott
DNAinfo Senior Editor
MANHATTAN — The only thing the Mets hate more than losing is losing to the Philadelphia Phillies.
The Jekyl and Hyde Mets will find out exactly how they stack up against one of the National League's top teams as they battle it out against the Phillies at Citizen's Bank Park on Friday night in the first of three games against their NL East rivals.
The Mets limped out of the gate to a 4-8 start before reeling off seven wins in a row to take over first place in the NL East. New York is just a half game ahead of the Phillies and a series win against Philadelphia would give the team a huge boost in confidence heading into May.
“I’m kind of anxious to see when we’re hot, the opposition is hot and kind of see where that falls and see how we manage to play in that type of setting,” manager Jerry Manuel told the Associated Press.
The Phillies have had the Mets number over the last three seasons, winning the division last year and eclipsing New York on the final weekend of the season to steal away the division crowns in 2007 and 2008.
"The last few years they've been the best team in the National League probably," Mets outfielder Jason Bay told the Daily News. "You're going to see where you stand pretty quick."
The Mets finished a distant 23 games behind the Phillies last season, going just 6-12 against Philadelphia on the season.
New York has won seven straight and is coming off a 9-1 homestand, its best since going 9-1 in September 1988. The Mets haven’t won eight in a row since a 10-game run in July 2008.
The Phillies are 4-5 over their last nine games.
