PHILADELPHIA – In a Thursday afternoon, series finale matinee against the New York Mets (89-69), the Philadelphia Phillies (61-97) will send rookie RHP Jerad Eickhoff to the mound as they look to sweep their division rivals at home for the first time since July 3-5, 2009.
Mets' southpaw Sean Gilmartin will be making his first career start, as LHP Steven Matz was scratched with 'lingering back issues'.
3B @MaikelFranco7 (left wrist fracture) has been activated off the DL.
— Phillies (@Phillies) October 1, 2015
Today's game was originally scheduled to be played at 7:05 p.m. However, due to 'expected inclement weather', Major League Baseball pushed the game up seven hours, with home-field advantage for the National League Division Series at stake for New York.
The Mets currently lead Chase Utley, Jimmy Rollins and the National League West division champion Los Angeles Dodgers (88-70) by one game with four left to play.
Starting Pitching Matchup:
| New York Mets (89-69) | Philadelphia Phillies (61-97) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LHP | Sean Gilmartin | RHP | Jerad Eickhoff | ||
| (3-1, 2.58 ERA) | (2-3, 3.07 ERA) | ||||
In 49 relief appearances this season, Gilmartin, 25, has allowed 47 hits, 17 walks, 15 runs and one home run over 52 1/3 innings.
Spanning 8 1/3 career innings against the Phillies, the rookie has allowed just seven hits, one run and one walk for a 1.08 ERA and 0.960 WHIP ratio.
Gilmartin was selected from the Minnesota Twins in the Rule 5 draft this past offseason, meaning he had to remain on their 25-man roster this season for him not to be returned.
Eickhoff, 25, is 0-2 with a 4.15 ERA and a 1.000 WHIP ratio over two career starts against the Mets.
This afternoon will be just the rookie hander's third start at Citizens Bank Park, where he has struck out 14 batters in 13.0 innings of work.
In his most recent start, Sept. 25 at Nationals Park, Eickhoff struck out a career-high 10 batters as the Phillies went on to defeat their division rivals in convincing fashion, 8-2.
According to MLB.com's Todd Zolecki, Eickhoff is the first Phillies' rookie to record 10+ strikeouts in a game since southpaw J.A. Happ on Aug. 5, 2009.
Starting Lineups:
| New York Mets (89-69) | Philadelphia Phillies (61-97) | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Position | Player | Bats | Position | Player | Bats | ||
| 1 | 2B | Kelly Johnson | L | 1 | 2B | Freddy Galvis | S |
| 2 | SS | Ruben Tejada | R | 2 | CF | Odubel Herrera | L |
| 3 | LF | Michael Conforto | L | 3 | LF | Aaron Altherr | R |
| 4 | 1B | Michael Cuddyer | R | 4 | RF | Jeff Francoeur | R |
| 5 | RF | Kirk Nieuwenhuis | L | 5 | 1B | Darin Ruf | R |
| 6 | 3B | Eric Campbell | R | 6 | 3B | Cody Asche | L |
| 7 | C | Kevin Plawecki | R | 7 | C | Carlos Ruiz | R |
| 8 | CF | Juan Lagares | R | 8 | SS | Chase d'Arnaud | R |
| 9 | P | Sean Gilmartin | L | 9 | P | Jerad Eickhoff | R |
Broadcast Information:
- First-pitch: 12:05 pm EST
- TV: CSN
- Radio: 94 WIP, 1210 WPHT, WTTM 1680 (Sp.)
Game Notes:
- The Phillies have scored 32 runs and allowed 17 over their past five games. They are 4-1 over this stretch, with a bullpen ERA of 2.25 (24 IP, 6 ER).
- The Mets have scored three-plus runs in 33 consecutive road games, the longest streak in the National League since 1900. They have hit 43 home runs over their last 20 games away from Citi Field.
- In five career at-bats against Eickhoff, rookie left fielder Michael Conforto is 4-5 with one double, one home run, one walk and two runs-batted-in (.800/.833/1.600).
- The Phillies are 3-5 (.375) against the Mets at Citizens Bank Park this season, and are 4-14 (.222) overall. They have not lost 15+ games to an opponent in a single season since 1961.
- All-time against the Mets in September at Citizens Bank Park, the Phillies are 10-8, averaging 5.06 runs and 8.72 hits per game.
- The Mets will be in search of their first season with 90 or more victories since 2006 (97-65). They have had 10 such seasons in franchise history.
What's Next:
- Friday, October 2, 2015: vs. Miami Marlins, 7:05 pm
- LHP Justin Nicolino (4-4, 4.16 ERA) vs. TBA
- TV: CSN; Radio: 94 WIP, 1210 WPHT, WTTM 1680 (Sp.)
- Saturday, October 3, 2015: vs. Miami Marlins, 7:05 pm
- RHP Tom Koehler (11-14, 4.00 ERA) vs. RHP Aaron Harang (6-15, 4.86 ERA)
- TV: CSN; Radio: 94 WIP, 1210 WPHT, WTTM 1680 (Sp.)
- Sunday, October 4, 2015: vs. Miami Marlins, 3:05 pm
- TBA vs. RHP David Buchanan (2-9, 7.54 ERA)
- TV: CSN; Radio: 94 WIP, 1210 WPHT, WTTM 1680 (Sp.)
Matt Rappa (@mattrappasports) is managing editor of Philliedelphia.com.
