(My Sportsbook) - The Philadelphia Phillies entered the 2003 season with one of the most feared lineups in the National League, but started the year without much power. That is slowly changing.

The team has just 36 homers this season, which is fourth-fewest in the NL. However, the Phillies have 14 homers in their last 11 games. Jim Thome, who was signed to an $85 million deal in the offseason, has nine round-trippers this year but has struggled with a .248 average.

Leftfielder Pat Burrell is hitting .213 with seven homers, 20 RBI and 52 strikeouts in 160 at-bats. He has been a huge disappointment so far, but the season still has four full months left so Burrell has plenty of time to redeem himself. An RBI triple in Sunday night's 3-1 win over Houston was a good start.

The team the Phillies face on Tuesday, the New York Mets, may help Burrell's cause. He is a lifetime .314 hitter versus New York with 17 homers and 49 RBI, which are his best totals against any major league team. His eight homers and 23 RBI at Shea Stadium are his most for any visiting ballpark.

"It's amazing how good some guys hit against certain teams," Phillies manager Larry Bowa told the Philadelphia Inquirer. "I did that when I played. I liked Wrigley Field. My confidence was always good there. There are just some teams, whether it's the park, whether it's coincidental, I don't know. But there are some teams where guys just wear them out."

At the start of this year, it was thought Philadelphia's pitching could struggle, while the team would score five or six runs per game. That hasn't happened so far.

Most of the starting rotation has done a decent job with ace Kevin Millwood (6-1) leading the way. On Sunday against the Astros, the righthander tossed his second complete game of the season and his first since a no-hitter versus San Francisco on April 27.

Vicente Padilla has struggled with an 0-4 mark over his last five outings, but the other starters have thrived. Righthander Brett Myers, who starts tonight's game at Shea, has the second-best ERA (2.21) in the National League. Lefty Randy Wolf is 2-0 over his last three starts. Righty Brandon Duckworth hasn't lost in his last four outings (3-0).

WHO'S HOT

Rheal Cormier's 19 1/3 scoreless-inning streak is the longest active string among major league relievers and the best of his career.

Third baseman David Bell is hitting .368 (7-for-19) in his last five games.

WHO'S NOT

The Phillies have allowed 40 stolen bases this season and caught just five runners attempting to steal. Mike Lieberthal has caught two of 26 runners and Todd Pratt one of 17.

Rightfielder Bobby Abreu is hitless in his last 12 at-bats.

Burrell is 1-for-14 over his last five contests.

COMING UP

Following the three-game set at Shea Stadium, the Phillies will tangle with the Expos in Montreal for three contests.