Phillies at Mets
Matt Harvey begins the process of trying to prove he can still be an effective pitcher for the New York Mets when he gets the start Monday against the visiting Philadelphia Phillies in the opener of a three-game series. The 29-year-old Harvey's steep slide from the youthful staff ace to injury-riddled veteran culminated in a dismal 2017 campaign, but the right-hander is confident in a turnaround, and not just for himself.
"Sky’s the limit. I think the biggest thing is staying healthy and we all are right now for the most part and we're going to be really good," he told reporters last week in spring training. "We're going to shock a lot of people and it's going to be a lot of fun." Harvey will hope for a little more run support than the Mets provided in Sunday's 5-1 loss to the St. Louis Cardinals, the club's first setback of the season. The Phillies enjoyed a much-needed day off Sunday after utilizing 21 pitchers in the season-opening three-game series at Atlanta. Sunday's 15-2 loss involved six hurlers, one of whom - Hoby Milner - had been called upon by rookie manager Gabe Kapler despite not throwing any warm-up pitches, which led to confusion and the eventual ejection of Braves skipper Brian Snitker for arguing against a delay.
TV: 7:10 p.m. ET, NBCS Philadelphia, SNY (New York)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Phillies RH Ben Lively (2017: 4-7, 4.26 ERA) vs. Mets RH Matt Harvey (5-7, 6.70)
Lively was recalled last June and posted quality starts in five of his first six outings in the major leagues, including 6 1/3 innings of two-run ball in a tough loss at New York on June 30. The 26-year-old allowed five runs in 19 1/3 frames spread over three solid matchups with the Mets on the season. He then posted a 3.13 ERA in six Grapefruit League appearances to earn a spot in the rotation.
A broken bone in his shoulder limited Harvey - who missed all of 2014 and much of 2016 because of injury - to 19 games (18 starts) last year, as he sat out all of July and August. The one-time All-Star returned to go 1-4 with an 11.28 ERA in six appearances in September, ending the season with a loss at Philadelphia in which he was rocked for four runs in four frames. Harvey, who posted a 4.50 ERA in five Grapefruit League outings, is 7-3 with a 3.07 ERA in 11 career starts versus the Phillies.
WALK-OFFS
1. Phillies LF Rhys Hoskins went 5-for-10 with a home run and two doubles in the series against the Braves.
2. Mets CF Juan Lagares is 5-for-8 over his last two games.
3. The Mets won each of the last six season series, including 12 of 19 matchups in in 2017.