Game Preview: Mets @ Phillies

This has been a rough week so far for the Mets in Philly. Each day the bullpen has been handed the lead and each day the bullpen has fallen apart, giving the game to the Phillies. Yesterday the Mets were walked off in Philly during the 10th inning after the bullpen couldn’t hold on to a 4-0 lead earlier in the game. The Mets will try to salvage the last game this afternoon with Wheeler taking on Nola.

Zack Wheeler stepped up in his last start. On the season he has 16 starts and 101.2 innings with a 4.69 ERA, 3.73 FIP, 1.298 WHIP and 86 ERA+. In his last outing he held the Cubs to 1 run over 7.0 innings, dropping his ERA from 4.94 to 4.69 in the game and ending a torrid run for himself. He faced the Phillies in back to back starts in April holding them to 3 runs in 14.0 innings of work while striking out 16. Those numbers are skewed by a gem he tossed against the Phils in Citi Field where he held them scoreless over 7.0 innings, striking out 11. The Phillies have the following numbers against Wheeler:

Bryce Harper 5-31, HR, 4 BB, 13 K
Cesar Hernandez 9-19, HR, BB, 4 K
Maikel Franco 3-12, 2B, HR, 2 BB
J.T. Realmuto 7-14, 2B, 3 K
Rhys Hoskins 1-12, BB, 5 K
Scott Kingery 1-6, HR, 2 K
Jay Bruce 0-3

The Mets bats draw Aaron Nola for the finale who is 6-2 over 16 games and 89.0 innings this year posting a 4.55 ERA, 4.40 FIP, 1.449 WHIP and 100 ERA+. Similar to Wheeler, his last start was also his first strong start in a few starts. Last time out he held the Marlins to 2 runs, 1 earned over 8.0 innings while striking out 10. Before that, over three starts he allowed 14 runs in 16.1 innings. His last start against the Mets back in April was good for the Mets – they scored 5 runs off 7 hits and 3 walks in 4.0 innings. The Mets have the following numbers against him