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(Sports Network) - The Philadelphia Phillies must start winning if they want to maintain the top spot in the National League East. Tonight, the slipping division leaders will play the first of three games versus the St. Louis Cardinals at Citizens Bank Park.

The Phillies opened a 10-game homestand by losing three of four games to the rival New York Mets, including Monday's 10-9 loss in the series finale. They battled back from a nine-run deficit, but it wasn't enough to extend the lead in the NL East. Florida is now 1 1/2 games off the pace and the Mets sit just 2 1/2 games back of Philadelphia.

Ryan Howard and Geoff Jenkins each belted two-run homers, while Chase Utley and Pat Burrell both added solo shots for the Phillies, who are 23-21 as the host this season. Starter Adam Eaton was roughed up for the loss, as he gave up eight runs, six of which were earned, and 10 hits in just 2 2/3 frames.

Cole Hamels will try to win his third straight start when he toes the rubber for the Phillies on Tuesday. Hamels is also 4-1 over his last six starts, and has pitched at least seven innings in each of those outings.

Hamels defeated Atlanta the last time out on Thursday at Turner Field, where he allowed just one run and five hits over 8 2/3 innings of a 4-1 win. The effort lifted Hamels to a 9-5 record and a 3.22 ERA in 18 starts in 2008.

The lanky lefty, who is 5-4 in 10 home starts this season, is 1-2 with a 3.27 earned run average through five career appearances against the Mets. Hamels lost to New York on April 18 this season at Citizens Bank Park, allowing five runs -- four earned -- on eight hits over seven frames in a 6-4 defeat.

St. Louis will kick off a six-game road trip on Tuesday, and is 24-19 away from Busch Stadium this season. It has split its last 10 games and suffered a 7-1 loss to the NL Central-rival Chicago Cubs on Sunday in the final game of a three-game series.

All-Star Ryan Ludwick provided the offense with a solo home run and Adam Kennedy chipped in two hits for St. Louis, which is 3 1/2 games behind the Cubs for the lead in the Central standings. Cardinals starting pitcher Todd Wellemeyer was saddled with the loss, yielding three runs and nine hits through five innings of work.

Taking the ball for the Cardinals tonight will be Joel Pineiro, who is 2-4 with a 4.52 earned run average in 13 starts this season.

Pineiro is winless over his previous nine trips to the mound (0-2), and last pitched on July 2 versus the Mets. In an 8-7 victory over New York, Pineiro did not factor in the outcome after yielding four runs and 11 hits in five innings of work.

The right-hander, who is 1-3 in eight road starts this season, owns a 0-0 record and a 3.46 earned run average in two career starts against Philadelphia.

St. Louis won two of three games versus the Phillies at Busch Stadium from June 13-15 this season. Philadelphia went 6-3 in the 2007 season series.