Mets at Phillies
The Philadelphia Phillies have turned the tables on the New York Mets in three straight games and are doing their best to change the narrative after the latter won the season series in each of the last seven years. Winners of six of nine in the 2019 season set, the host Phillies bid for a four-game series sweep of their National League East rivals Thursday afternoon.
Former Met Jay Bruce continued to endear himself to his new team after his RBI double in the 10th inning allowed Philadelphia to overcome a four-run deficit and post a 5-4 win Wednesday. Cesar Hernandez has recorded six consecutive multi-hit performances for the Phillies, who have erupted for 25 runs during their three-game winning streak after mustering just 15 in their season-high seven-game losing skid. While Hernandez is heating up during a recent stretch, Jeff McNeil has been sizzling hot in his career versus the Phillies - he is batting .456 with 11 extra-base hits, 11 RBIs and 13 runs scored in 20 encounters. The Mets, however, continue to be cold away from Queens as they have lost four games in a row to fall to 3-7 on this 11-game road trip and 17-30 away from Citi Field this season.
TV: 1:05 p.m. ET, MLB Network; SNY (New York), NBCS Philadelphia
PITCHING MATCHUP: Mets RH Zach Wheeler (6-5, 4.69 ERA) vs. Phillies RH Aaron Nola (6-2, 4.55)
Wheeler snapped a three-start winless skid with a sterling performance Saturday as he allowed one run on five hits in seven innings of a 10-2 romp at the Chicago Cubs. The 29-year-old sustained a hard-luck loss against Philadelphia despite permitting three runs in seven innings April 17 before scattering five hits and striking out 11 in seven frames of a 9-0 victory over the Phillies six days later. J.T. Realmuto (7-for-14) and Hernandez (9-for-19) have feasted on Wheeler, although Rhys Hoskins is 1-for-12 with five strikeouts.
Nola fell to 0-2 with a 5.55 ERA in his last four starts despite allowing two runs (one earned) and striking out 10 in eight innings of a 2-1 setback versus Miami on Friday. The 26-year-old escaped with a no-decision against New York on April 15 despite permitting five runs on seven hits in four frames. Todd Frazier is 0-for-10 with four strikeouts versus Nola, who owns a 6-1 mark with a 3.90 ERA in 10 career starts against the Mets.
WALK-OFFS
1. New York OF Dominic Smith has launched a solo homer to the opposite field in three straight contests after going deep four times in his previous 66 games this season.
2. Philadelphia OFs Bryce Harper and Scott Kingery combined to go 0-for-9 with seven strikeouts Wednesday.
3. Mets 2B Robinson Cano is 3-for-27 in his last seven games.