Game: Philadelphia Phillies @ New York Mets
Time: 7:10 p.m.
Odds: Phillies +118, Mets -128
Total: 8.5
The Philadelphia Phillies don’t need anyone to tell them that a sluggish start to Memorial Day does not necessarily spell disaster. No one needs to point out to the Philadelphia Phillies or the New York Mets how important this moment is for salvaging their seasons. The two National League East rivals will meet for the first time this season, starting a three-game series tonight.
The Phillies’ left-hander Ranger Suarez (0-1, 9.82) is scheduled to face the Mets’ right-hander Kodai Senga (4-3, 3.94 ERA) in the opener.
After losing on the road Sunday, both teams had the day off Monday. The Phillies lost a chance to even their four-game series with the Atlanta Braves by losing 11-4. The Mets let a four-run lead slip away in an 11-10 defeat to the Colorado Rockies.
After losing on Sunday, the Phillies, who were in fourth place in the division, are now 25-28. Through Memorial Day of last year, Philadelphia’s record read 21-28. Rob Thomson took over as Phillies manager after Joe Girardi was dismissed two games later. Under Thomson, the Phillies went 65-46, qualified for the playoffs as the third wild card, and advanced to the World Series before losing to the Houston Astros.
Slugger Kyle Schwarber offered the Phillies some life on Sunday. In 53 games this year, Schwarber has hit .168 with 13 home runs and 27 RBIs. Through Memorial Day last season, he hit.188 with 11 home runs and 23 RBIs in 47 games. The rest of the season, he hit .231 with 35 home runs and 71 RBIs. On Sunday, Schwarber smacked a two-run homer. It’s possible the Phillies do what they did a year ago.
The Mets went 101-61 last year, but they have had their fair share of issues so far this season Since April 22, New York is just 13-20. A lot of the problem has to do with pitching. After finishing fifth last year in team ERA, the Mets rotation has a 5.13 ERA, which ranks 25th in the majors. Mets starters rank 21st in the league in innings pitched with 270. Last year, New York pitchers had a collective ERA of 3.61.
When they combined to allow two runs over 13.2 innings on Thursday and Friday, Carlos Carrasco and Max Scherzer gave the Mets some much-needed momentum. However, the momentum was halted when Justin Verlander and Tylor Megill gave up a combined 12 runs (10 earned) over nine innings in their starts at Colorado on Saturday and Sunday.
Last Wednesday, the Phillies defeated the Arizona Diamondbacks 6-5 in 10 innings. Suarez gave up five runs over five innings, but he was not involved in the decision. Senga suffered the loss on Wednesday when the Mets lost to the Chicago Cubs 4-2. He gave up three runs in five innings.
In 11 career games (four starts), Suarez has a 1-2 record and a 4.01 ERA versus the Mets. Senga has never pitched against Philadelphia.
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