Phillies at Mets
After losing six straight to the Philadelphia Phillies - including the last two in which their relievers gave up five runs in the ninth inning each time - the New York Mets finally got some relief from their bullpen. The Mets seek only their fourth victory in 13 contests on Sunday, when they host the Phillies for the rubber match of their three-game series.
New York's beleaguered bullpen gave up at least one run for the 22nd time in its last 25 games but kept the damage to a minimum in Saturday's 6-5 triumph, allowing one run and five hits over four innings after surrendering 27 and 35 over 17 2/3 frames in its six previous contests against Philadelphia. Saturday did not lack for drama, however, as New York's Todd Frazier and manager Mickey Callaway were ejected. The Phillies have gone 13-21 since climbing a season-high 11 games over .500 on May 29 but remain 6 1/2 games behind National League East-leading Atlanta. Maikel Franco finished 3-for-4 with a solo shot on Saturday and is batting .340 with six home runs and 15 RBIs against the Mets this season (.205, seven homers and 26 RBIs versus all other opponents).
TV: 1:10 p.m. ET, NBCS Philadelphia, WPIX (New York)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Phillies RH Aaron Nola (7-2, 3.89 ERA) vs. Mets RH Zack Wheeler (6-5, 4.42)
Nola recorded his second straight scoreless performance on Tuesday in Atlanta, allowing seven baserunners while registering eight strikeouts in as many innings to win for the first time since May 29. The 26-year-old permitted one hit and one walk against the Mets five days earlier in a no-decision and has yielded a total of one earned run with 28 strikeouts over 23 frames in his last three turns. Jeff McNeil (5-for-13) has fared well versus Nola, who is 6-1 with a 3.48 ERA in 11 career starts against the Mets.
Wheeler nearly has been Nola's equal recently but failed to factor in the decision for the second straight time Tuesday against the New York Yankees despite giving up two runs in 6 1/3 innings. The native of Georgia settled for a no-decision opposite Nola five days earlier after limiting the Phillies to one run and two hits in six frames and owns a 1.86 ERA over his last three starts. Bryce Harper (6-for-34, 14 strikeouts) has struggled mightily against Wheeler, who is 5-2 with a 2.95 ERA in 13 career starts versus Philadelphia.
WALK-OFFS
1. Harper is one walk away from becoming the first player since Joey Votto in 2012 to record at least 50 runs, 25 doubles and 60 walks before the All-Star break.
2. McNeil finished 4-for-5 on Saturday to bump his average to a major league-best .356. He is batting .443 with 11 multi-hit efforts, 15 RBIs and 14 runs over his last 17 contests.
3. Mets backup C Tomas Nido has gone 7-for-18 with a homer and six RBIs in his last five games.