MMO Game Thread: Phillies vs Mets, 7:10 PM

Tuesday, April 18, 2017 • 7:10 p.m.
Citi Field • Flushing, N.Y.
RHP Zach Eflin (season debut) vs. RHP Zack Wheeler (1-1, 7.45)
SNY • WOR 710 AM • ESPN 1050 AM

It’s been a rough three last games for the Mets. After winning 5 in a row including a 16-inning marathon, they lost 3 in a row to the Marlins, all at the end of the game. Sometimes the best cure for that is an off-day to reset and recharge. You know what also makes an off-day work? Following it with a series against the Phillies.

The Mets have won 15 of their last 17 series vs. the Phillies and are 29-12 vs. Philadelphia since the start of the 2015 campaign. The Mets swept a three-game series in Philadelphia, April 10-12.

Mets Lineup

Michael Conforto – CF
Asdrúbal Cabrera – SS
Yoenis Céspedes – LF
Jay Bruce – RF
Neil Walker – 2B
Lucas Duda – 1B
José Reyes – 3B
Travis d’Arnaud – C
Zack Wheeler – RHP

Phillies Lineup

Cesar Hernandez – 2B
Daniel Nava – LF
Odubel Herrera – CF
Maikel Franco – 3B
Michael Saunders – RF
Tommy Joseph – 1B
Cameron Rupp, C
Freddy Galvis – SS
Zach Elfin – P

Wheeler will be on the mound tonight, he’s 1-1 over as many starts with 9.2 innings of work allowing 8 ER this year. However, that’s heavily skewed. When he was taken out of the game in his last start, he allowed only 1 ER and loaded the bases. Robles promptly allowed a Grand Slam. That start was also against the Phillies, so Wheeler has a chance to get some early season revenge. The Phillies have the following numbers against Wheeler:

Hernandez 3-5
Blanco 1-2
Herrera 0-2
Kendrick 0-3
Franco 0-2
Galvis 0-2
Joseph 1-2, 2B
Rupp 0-2

The Mets bats draw rookie Zach Eflin who will be making his 2017 debut. Last year he went 3-5 over 11 starts in 63.1 innings. He posted a 5.54 ERA despite pitching two complete games, including a complete game shutout. Last year against the Mets he allowed 3 ER over 5 hits in 6.0 innings of work. The Mets have the following numbers against Zach: