By Matt Rappa, Sports Talk Philly editor 
Having split the first four games of the series, the Philadelphia Phillies (68-55) and New York Mets (53-69) will face off in a nationally-televised rubber match Sunday evening in the MLB Little League Classic at BB&T Ballpark at Historic Bowman Field in Williamsport, Pennsylvania. Right-hander Nick Pivetta will take on veteran southpaw Jason Vargas in the five-game series finale.
Read: ESPN pulls out all the stops for MLB's Little League Classic (New York Post)
The Phillies are coming off of a 3-1 defeat on Sunday, as Mets starter RHP Jacob deGrom went the distance, allowing just seven hits, one unearned run and no walks on nine strikeouts. Phillies starter RHP Jake Arrieta fell to 9-8 on the season, despite allowing just one run on four hits, no walks and six strikeouts spanning six frames and 96 pitches (61 strikes). Rhys Hoskins and Maikel Franco each collected multiple hits, while Wilson Ramos went 0-4 with a strikeout batting cleanup. DeGrom is the only pitcher with multiple complete games against the Phillies over the last four years, WPVI's Jeff Skversky notes.
The St. Louis Cardinals and Pittsburgh Pirates played in the inaugural Little League Classic last season. A combined nine runs, 20 hits, two home runs and 16 strikeouts were featured in the Pirates' 6-3 victory. The Phillies and Mets have a combined three players on their rosters who once played in the Little League World Series: Scott Kingery, Todd Frazier and Michael Conforto. The Phillies' Pat Neshek, Vince Velasquez, Jake Arrieta, Odubel Herrera, Cesar Hernandez, Nick Williams and coach Jose David Flores are also Little League alumni.
The #Phillies will play their 62nd game in franchise history at a neutral site and their first since Sept. 3, 1957, at Roosevelt Stadium in Jersey City, NJ, where they were the visiting team against the Brooklyn Dodgers. @Retrosheet
— Todd Zolecki (@ToddZolecki) August 19, 2018
Starting Pitching Matchup:
| New York Mets (53-69) | Philadelphia Phillies (68-55) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LHP | Jason Vargas | RHP | Nick Pivetta | ||
| (2-8, 8.10 ERA) | (7-9, 4.37 ERA) | ||||
LHP Jason Vargas, Age: 35
- 2018 vs. PHI: N/A
- Career vs. PHI: 1-0, 4.02 ERA, 4 G, 2 GS, 15 2/3 IP, 12 H, 7 R, 7 ER, 2 HR, 9 BB, 9 SO, 1.340 WHIP
Vargas, a 13-year veteran who debuted with the Florida Marlins in 2005, will make his third career start against the Phillies on Sunday. The Apple Valley, California, native has surrendered 10 home runs in eight road starts this season (33 1/3 innings pitched), while the Mets have lost 11 of Vargas' 13 overall starts. The two wins came in the southpaw's only two starts this season in which he allowed no runs — home on May 21 against the Miami Marlins and away on May 30 against the Atlanta Braves. Vargas tossed five innings in both winning decisions.
RHP Nick Pivetta, Age: 25
- 2018 vs. NYM: N/A
- Career vs. NYM: 2-1, 4.98 ERA, 4 G, 4 GS, 21 2/3 IP, 20 H, 13 R, 12 ER, 4 HR, 11 BB, 20 SO, 1.431 WHIP
This month, Pivetta is 1-0 with a 1.50 ERA, .194/.219/.306 opposing slash, and 19 strikeouts spanning 18 innings and three starts. The right-hander opposed the Mets four times last year in his rookie season, but has yet to face them until Sunday night in 2018.
Starting Lineups:
| New York Mets (53-69) | Philadelphia Phillies (68-55) | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Position | Player | Bats | Position | Player | Bats | ||
| 1 | SS | Amed Rosario | R | 1 | 2B | Cesar Hernandez | S |
| 2 | 2B | Jeff McNeil | L | 2 | LF | Rhys Hoskins | R |
| 3 | 1B | Wilmer Flores | R | 3 | 1B | Carlos Santana | S |
| 4 | LF | Michael Conforto | L | 4 | C | Wilson Ramos | R |
| 5 | 3B | Todd Frazier | R | 5 | 3B | Asdrubal Cabrera | S |
| 6 | CF | Austin Jackson | R | 6 | RF | Nick Williams | L |
| 7 | RF | Jose Bautista | R | 7 | SS | Scott Kingery | R |
| 8 | C | Kevin Plawecki | R | 8 | CF | Odubel Herrera | L |
| 9 | P | Jason Vargas | L | 9 | P | Nick Pivetta | R |
Broadcast Information:
- First pitch: 7:10 p.m.
- TV: ESPN
- Radio: SportsRadio 94 WIP
Game Notes:
- While the Phillies sit atop the National League Wild Card standings, three teams are looming under them, no more than one game out.
- Franco and right fielder Nick Williams each have five-game hit streaks, respectively slashing .389/.421/.667 and .333/.333/.476.
Tonight. It's on.#LittleLeagueClassic | #BeBold pic.twitter.com/60asU2WoMz
— Philadelphia Phillies (@Phillies) August 19, 2018
- Mets center fielder Brandon Nimmo is hitless in nine career plate appearances opposite Pivetta with two RBI, one walk, one strikeout and two sacrifice flys (.000/.111/.000). Phillies shortstop Asdrubal Cabrera is 7-16 lifetime against Vargas with a double, home run, RBI, sacrifice hit and hit-by-pitch (.438/.471/.688).
Before playing on Sunday Night Baseball in June, the Phillies went 1,785 days in between appearances on ESPN's showcase game. Tonight, the Phillies will play on Sunday Night Baseball for the second time in 56 days.
— Tim Kelly (@TimKellySports) August 19, 2018
What's Next:
Monday, August 20: Off day
Tuesday, August 21, 2018: at Washington Nationals, 7:05 p.m.
- Nationals Park, Washington, D.C.
- RHP Vince Velasquez (8-9, 4.13 ERA) vs. RHP Tanner Roark (8-12, 4.13 ERA)
- TV: NBCSP; Radio: SportsRadio 94 WIP
