Mets at Phillies
The New York Mets didn't do the Philadelphia Phillies any favors after getting swept by the Chicago Cubs, thus preventing manager Gabe Kapler's club from cutting into its deficit in its pursuit of the second wild card. The Phillies aim to take their frustrations out on the reeling Mets on Friday when they open a three-game set in the City of Brotherly Love.
Rhys Hoskins showed signs of ending his pronounced 2-for-20 slump with a pair of extra-base hits and an RBI as Philadelphia cruised to a 12-3 romp over Keystone State-rival Pittsburgh on Wednesday. The 26-year-old Hoskins had just two extra-base hits in his previous 80 plate appearances entering that contest and has eight such hits (two doubles, one triple, five homers) versus New York this season. The Phillies, who reside 2 1/2 games behind the Cubs, have won nine of 13 encounters against a Mets' club that that has answered a 21-5 stretch with losses in six straight -- including Thursday's 4-1 setback to Chicago. Wilson Ramos enters the series opener on a career-high 22-game hitting streak, during which he is 36-for-84 with 15 RBIs.
TV: 7:05 p.m. ET, SNY (New York), NBC 10 (Philadelphia)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Mets RH Zack Wheeler (9-7, 4.46 ERA) at Phillies RH Aaron Nola (12-4, 3.53)
Wheeler has answered 15 scoreless innings with a three-start stretch in which he has posted an 0-1 mark with a 6.75 ERA, including a five-run effort in a no-decision against Atlanta on Saturday. The 29-year-old will look to get back on track versus Philadelphia, against which he had three straight solid outings earlier in the year before getting shredded for six runs in five frames of an 8-3 setback on July 7. J.T. Realmuto (8-for-16) and Cesar Hernandez (9-for-23) have flourished versus Wheeler, who sports a 5-3 mark with a 3.43 ERA in 14 career encounters with the Phillies.
Nola sustained his second loss in four outings and fell to 6-3 with a 2.27 ERA in his last 13 starts after allowing three runs on five hits in seven innings of Sunday's 3-2 setback at Miami. The 26-year-old's run total was a bit high in light of his recent performances, during which he has permitted two or fewer in nine of his last 13 trips to the mound. Nola has excelled in two of three starts against New York this season, including a one-hit, 10-strikeout performance over seven scoreless innings in a no-decision on June 27.
WALK-OFFS
1. New York LF J.D. Davis has belted a solo homer in three consecutive contests and is 6-for-16 during his four-game hitting streak.
2. Philadelphia OF Corey Dickerson has 23 hits -- including 13 for extra bases -- and 23 RBIs in 21 games since being acquired from Pittsburgh.
3. Mets OF Jeff McNeil has flustered the Phillies, going 22-for-53 with two homers, six RBIs and seven runs scored in the season series.