Mets at Phillies
The New York Mets have dominated the Philadelphia Phillies in the season series since 2012, winning 21 of the last 28 sets in that stretch. After working overtime to win the opener, the visiting Mets aim to add to those totals on Tuesday when the National League East rivals play the second contest of a three-game set at Citizens Bank Park.
Juan Lagares scored the go-ahead run in the 11th inning of Monday's 7-6 victory following an error by Philadelphia first baseman Rhys Hoskins and an off-target throw to the plate by second baseman Cesar Hernandez. Brandon Nimmo belted a solo homer in the sixth, giving him 11 hits - six for extra bases - and seven RBIs in his last eight games. While New York owns a 8-3 mark on the road, the Phillies have lost four of six overall and surrendered 32 runs in their last three contests at home. Prize offseason addition Bryce Harper had an RBI single for his lone hit on Monday, dropping to 5-for-32 in his last eight outings.
TV: 7:05 p.m. ET, SNY (New York), NBCS Philadelphia
PITCHING MATCHUP: Mets LH Steven Matz (1-0, 1.65 ERA) vs. Phillies RH Nick Pivetta (1-1, 9.45)
Matz recorded his third straight strong start on Thursday and picked up his first decision after allowing two runs on four hits over six innings in a 6-3 win at Atlanta. The 27-year-old struck out eight for the second straight outing and walked just one after issuing four free passes in his previous contest. Matz, who owns an 0-2 mark with a 3.57 ERA in five career starts versus Philadelphia, has kept Hopkins (1-for-10) in check - although Scott Kingery (3-for-7, homer) gave him some trouble last season.
Pivetta struggled in his third straight start on Wednesday, permitting seven runs on as many hits while issuing three walks across 3 2/3 innings of a 15-1 shellacking by Washington. "He's got a tremendous amount of ability. We trust that that ability is going to show up. I believe strongly that he's going to be OK," Philadelphia manager Gabe Kapler said of the 26-year-old British Columbia native. Pivetta is 2-2 with a 6.39 ERA in five career starts versus New York and has allowed the current crop of Mets to hit .326 against him, although Nimmo is 0-for-6.
WALK-OFFS
1. Philadelphia 3B Maikel Franco, who homered in the series opener, went deep three times versus New York last season.
2. Mets INF Jeff McNeil is 14-for-33 with seven RBIs in his last eight games.
3. Phillies OF Andrew McCutchen is 7-for-17 with four runs scored during his four-game hitting streak.