By Matt Rappa, Sports Talk Philly editor 
Behind RHP Jake Arrieta, the Philadelphia Phillies (68-54) will take on National League Cy Young Award candidate RHP Jacob deGrom and the New York Mets (52-69) in the fourth of a five-game series Saturday afternoon at Citizens Bank Park.
Phillies ace and another Cy Young Award RHP Aaron Nola struck out 11 batters over seven, one-run-allowed frames en route to a 4-2 win over the Mets on Friday, his National League second-best 14th of the season. The Phillies got out to an early 3-0 lead in the first, highlighted with Asdrubal Cabrera's and Nick Williams' respective RBI double and single, and would add their fourth and final run three innings later with Jorge Alfaro's RBI single. Victor Arano (9) and Adam Morgan (14) recorded holds, while Pat Neshek notched his third save to close out the Phillies' 68th win of the season. The Phillies stole five bases opposite Mets starter Noah Syndergaard, their most in a game since July 23, 2016. Alfaro's two stolen bases are the most by a Phillies catcher in a game since Bob Boone on June 18, 1973, also against the Mets, according to ESPN Stats & Info.
Aaron Nola has allowed 4 or fewer hits in 15 starts.
According to @BaseballRef, only 5 MLB pitchers since 1908 have had more starts allowing 4 or fewer hits at this point in a season [through team’s first 122 games]:
Kershaw, Scherzer, Nolan Ryan, Babe Ruth, Christy Mathewson
— Reuben Frank (@RoobNBCS) August 18, 2018
A win on Saturday would secure the Phillies their 19th series victory of the season. The Phillies — who are 61-3 (.953) when leading after eight innings — are playing in their ninth-ever five-game series against the Mets, their first since May 29-June 2, 2014.
Starting Pitching Matchup:
| New York Mets (52-69) | Philadelphia Phillies (68-54) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RHP | Jacob deGrom | RHP | Jake Arrieta | ||
| (7-7, 1.81 ERA) | (9-7, 3.33 ERA) | ||||
RHP Jacob deGrom, Age: 30
- 2018 vs. PHI: 0-0, 0.00 ERA, 2 G, 2 GS, 9 IP, 5 H, 0 R, 4 BB, 9 SO, 1.000 WHIP
- Career vs. PHI: 6-1, 2.45 ERA, 13 G, 13 GS, 77 IP, 62 H, 26 R, 21 ER, 5 HR, 18 BB, 82 SO, 1.039 WHIP
- Career at Citizens Bank Park: 2-0, 3.13 ERA, 6 G, 6 GS, 31 2/3 IP, 22 H, 12 R, 11 ER, 4 HR, 11 BB, 35 SO, 1.042 WHIP
deGrom has surrendered three runs or less while tossing at least six innings in 16 straight starts, five shy of Dwight Gooden's club record set in 1984-85, according to The New York Times' Matthew Brownstein. The right-hander has thrown nine scoreless innings against the Phillies this season spanning two starts, although he has yet to earn a victory in either.
RHP Jake Arrieta, Age: 32
- 2018 vs. NYM: 0-0, 0.00 ERA, 1 G, 1 GS, 7 1/3 IP, 5 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 5 SO, 0.955 WHIP
- Career vs. NYM: 2-2, 1.99 ERA, 8 G, 8 GS, 54 1/3 IP, 41 H, 12 R, 12 ER, 2 HR, 13 BB, 49 SO, 0.994 WHIP
- Career at Citizens Bank Park: 6-2, 2.55 ERA, 13 G, 13 GS, 77 2/3 IP, 60 H, 32 R, 22 ER, 8 HR, 25 BB, 69 SO, 1.094 WHIP
Like deGrom, Arrieta has yet to surrender a run to the Mets offense this season, tossing 7 1/3 scoreless frames in a no-decision, home on May 11. The Mets and Baltimore Orioles are one of two teams the right-hander has both a career sub-2.00 ERA and career sub-1.000 WHIP against. Arrieta will make his first home start since shutting down the Los Angeles Dodgers on July 25.
Starting Lineups:
| New York Mets (52-69) | Philadelphia Phillies (68-54) | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | RF | Nick Williams | L |
| 6 | CF | Austin Jackson | R | 6 | 3B | Maikel Franco | R |
| 7 | RF | Jose Bautista | R | 7 | CF | Odubel Herrera | L |
| 8 | C | Devin Mesoraco | R | 8 | SS | Scott Kingery | R |
| 9 | P | Jacob deGrom | L | 9 | P | Jake Arrieta | R |
Broadcast Information:
- First pitch: 4:05 p.m.
- TV: NBCSP
- Radio: SportsRadio 94 WIP
Game Notes:
- The Phillies gained ground on the division-leading Atlanta Braves on Friday, with the club falling to the Colorado Rockies, 11-5. Braves starter Sean Newcomb surrendered seven runs, nine hits and three walks through 5 1/3 innings. Having lost two straight, the Braves will take on the Rockies for two more before a seven-game road trip against the Pittsburgh Pirates and Miami Marlins, August 20-26.
- Nola's 2.236 ERA is the lowest by a Phillies starting pitcher through 25 starts since Chris Short in 1964 (1.97 ERA), according to The Athletic's Meghan Montemurro. Halladay had a 2.238 ERA through as many starts during his Cy Young Award season in 2010.
- Phillies first baseman Justin Bour is 8-21 lifetime against deGrom with five singles, one double, two home runs, six RBI and three walks (.381/.458/.714), while catcher Wilson Ramos is 3-17 with a double, home run and four RBI (.176/.176/.412). Mets outfielder Jose Bautista, meanwhile, is slashing just .063/.286/.063 in 21 career plate appearances oppose Arrieta (click to expand).
What's Next:
Sunday, August 19, 2018: vs. New York Mets, 7:10 p.m.
- MLB Little League Classic
- BB&T Ballpark at Historic Bowman Field, Williamsport, Pa.
- LHP Jason Vargas (2-8, 8.10 ERA) vs. RHP Nick Pivetta (7-9, 4.37 ERA)
- TV: ESPN; Radio: SportsRadio 94 WIP
