GAME: Montreal Expos (26-27) at Philadelphia Phillies (21-31).

TIME: Friday, 7:05 p.m. EDT.

Swept in Montreal last week, the Philadelphia Phillies will look for better results as they return to Veterans Stadium for a three-game set with the Expos.

Philadelphia has played well at home but has been disastrous on the road this season. With a major league-worst 5-22 road record, the Phillies are coming off a 1-4 road trip to Montreal and New York as open a six-game homestand.

As they return to the Vet, several Phillies will look to increase their offensive production. All-Star shortstop Jimmy Rollins was 2-for-19 in the recent five-game swing. Third baseman Scott Rolen, who had five home runs in the first month of the season, has hit just one homer in May and has seen his average drop to .245.

After the Expos swept the Phils last week, they traveled to Atlanta and lost three of four to the Braves. They managed a total of just eight runs in the series.

Montreal will now look to regain the offensive spark it displayed against Philadelphia last week. In the three games at Olympic Stadium, the Expos outscored the Phillies 23-14.

Second baseman Jose Vidro, who had his 21-game hitting streak ended in Tuesday's 5-2 loss to the Braves, was 1-for-9 in the two following games. Fourth in the National League with a .330 average, Vidro was 0-for-4 in Thursday's 5-2 loss.

STANDINGS: Expos - 3rd place, 2½ GB, NL East. Phillies - 5th place, 7 GB, NL East.

EXPOS PROBABLE STARTER: Javier Vazquez (2-2, 2.96 ERA). Vazquez has not earned a decision in any of his past three starts. On Sunday, he gave up five runs and 10 hits in 6 2-3 innings, as the Expos beat the Phillies 6-5.

PHILLIES PROBABLE STARTER: Brandon Duckworth (2-3, 4.42 ERA). Although he did not earn a decision, Duckworth had his best outing of the year in his last start. In a 1-0 loss to the Mets on May 23, he allowed just five hits in eight innings, while striking out five and walking three. He is tied with Houston's Roy Oswalt for sixth in the National League with 65 strikeouts.

OFFENSIVE LEADERS: Expos - Vidro, .330 avg. and 37 runs; Vladimir Guerrero, 14 HRs, 45 RBIs and 10 SBs. Phillies - Pat Burrell, .296 avg., 13 HRs and 33 RBIs; Rollins, 29 runs and 10 SBs.

SEASON SERIES: Expos, 3-0.

STREAKS AND NOTES: Expos - OF Troy O'Leary went hitless Thursday after managing at least two hits in each of his last four starts. ... OF Guerrero went 10 games without a homer before hitting one Wednesday. The longest such streak for him last season was 13 games, which occurred twice. Phillies - 1B Travis Lee is batting .115 (3-for-26) against Vazquez. ... OF Jeremy Giambi is 3-for-9 with two homers since joining the Phillies on May 24.

ROAD/HOME RECORDS: Expos - 9-17 on the road. Phillies - 16-9 at home.

INJURIES: Expos - LHP Scott Downs (elbow), 60-day DL; RHP Troy Mattes (shoulder), out for the season. Phillies - INF Dave Hollins (knee), 15-day DL; RHP Robert Person (elbow), 15-day DL; RHP Turk Wendell (elbow), 60-day DL.