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On Deck is FanHouse's look at the day's most intriguing baseball matchups

New York Mets (82-61) vs. Atlanta Braves (73-71)-7:05PM Est.

It wasn't too long ago that the Mets were barely holding on in the NL East. They'd just been swept by the Phillies, and it looked as if everything was falling apart around them. Now? Now they've won 9 of their last 10 games, they finally have a healthy starting rotation, and they're about ready to drive the final nails into Atlanta and Philly's coffins. With the start of a three game series tonight against Atlanta, the Mets have a chance to knock them out of the race for good. Orlando Hernandez will start for the Mets tonight after skipping his last start with a sore foot. That's good for the Mets because Hernandez is 6-1 since June 29th, and the Mets are 10-2 in his starts. The Braves counter with Buddy Carlyle. Carlyle has struggled lately, losing three of his last four starts. He only lasted 1.1 innings in his last start against Philadelphia, and has been giving up home runs at an alarming rate lately. All of which is only sure to get worse against the Mets lineup.

On Deck is FanHouse's look at the day's most intriguing matchups

Kansas City Royals (43-57) vs. New York Yankees (54-46)-8:10PM Est.

Do you think they're getting nervous in Boston yet? The Yankees have won six in a row and are now within 6.5 games of the Red Sox in the AL East. There's also the fact that Alex Rodriguez is only one home run shy of 500 in his career. The first candidate to give it up to A-Rod is Jorge De La Rosa who's 7-10 with a 5.61 ERA this season. The Royals had been playing pretty well, winning four of their last five to catch the White Sox, before the Yankees came to town and steamrolled them in the first three games of this series. Now they'll be trying to deny the Yankees a seventh straight win and four game sweep. Kei Igawa will start for the Yankees, he's 2-2 with a 6.67 ERA and hasn't won a game as a starter in three months. Since picking up a win in relief at the end of April, Igawa is 0-2 with an 8.13 ERA in seven starts.