Phillies seek rebound as Pivetta opposes Lugo, Mets

By Matt Rappa, Sports Talk Philly editor

PHILADELPHIA — The Philadelphia Phillies (42-70) will look to rebound in the second of a four-game series Friday evening, as they take on RHP Seth Lugo and the New York Mets (51-61) at Citizens Bank Park. Phillies rookie RHP Nick Pivetta will make his 17th career start and his seventh at home, a venue where he is 1-2 with a 3.89 ERA and 46 strikeouts through 37 innings thus far.

Both the Phillies' and Mets' starters went down due to injury the as New York went on to secure the 10-0 rout on Thursday. Right-hander Vince Velasquez exited after just one inning with numbness in his right middle finger. He allowed three hits, a walk and three earned runs on 32 pitches (17 strikes). Mets first baseman Wilmer Flores homered off the Phillies' right hander and went on to finish a triple shy of the cycle. Mets RHP Jacob deGrom pitched 6 2/3 shutout innings before being hit on his pitching arm via a line drive by Phillies right fielder Nick Williams. DeGrom exited the game and was later diagnosed with a right triceps contusion.

The Phillies' offense mustered just one walk and four hits, three of which were singles. Third baseman Maikel Franco picked up his 20th double, marking his third straight season of 20-plus two-base knocks. Phillies top prospect Rhys Hoskins made his major league debut in left field and went 0-2 with a walk and strikeout in three plate appearances.

At home against the Mets, the Phillies have fallen in four straight and in seven of their last eight meetings.

Starting Pitching Matchup:

Lugo Career vs. PHI: 0-0, 5.40 ERA, 1 G, 1 GS, 5 IP, 4 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 2 BB, 4 SO, 2 HR, 1.200 WHIP

Lugo, 27, will take the mound for his 29th appearance and 19th start overall for his career. The right-hander first opposed the Phillies in his second-to-last start of his rookie season, Sept. 22, 2016 at Citi Field.

The Shreveport, Louisiana native has surrendered two home runs in each of his last three starts, combining for a 5.94 ERA, 11 strikeouts and 20 hits overall allowed in 16 2/3 innings.

Season Splits, By Month:

• April: 0 G, 0 GS
• May: 0 G, 0 GS
• June: 4 G, 4 GS, 3-1, 3.55 ERA, 25 1/3 IP, 17 SO, 8 BB, .274/.330/.411
• July: 6 G, 5 GS, 2-2, 5.29 ERA, 32 1/3 IP, 22 SO, 6 BB, .295/.326/.500
• August: 1 G, 1 GS, 0-0, 4.76 ERA, 5 2/3 IP, 5 SO, 2 BB, .190/.261/.524

Pivetta Career vs. NYM: 1-0, 1.29 ERA, 1 G, 1 GS, 7 IP, H, R, ER, 4 BB, 4 SO, HR, 0.714 WHIP

Pivetta, 24, first opposed the Mets in the Phillies' 7-1 victory on July 2 at Citi Field; he allowed just one hit through seven innings — a solo home run by third baseman T.J. Rivera. In the rookie right-hander's six starts since, Pivetta is 2-3 with a 7.59 ERA and a 31-7 strikeout-to-walk ratio spanning 32 innings.

Pivetta matched a career low in innings during his most recent start, August 5 against the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field (2 2/3 innings). On 64 pitches (41 strikes), Pivetta surrendered eight runs (six earned) on seven hits, one walk, one strikeout and one home run.

Five of Pivetta's 16 outings have been quality starts, however he has thrown just one such outing since early July.

Season Splits, By Month:

• April: 1 GS, 0-1, 3.60 ERA, 5 IP, 5 SO, 1 BB, .409/.435/.727
• May: 3 GS, 0-1, 5.64 ERA, 14 1/3 IP, 16 SO, 8 BB, .293/.388/.586
• June: 5 GS, 1-2, 5.61 ERA, 25 2/3 IP, 28 SO, 15 BB, .260/.360/.417
• July: 6 GS, 3-2, 5.45 ERA, 36 1/3 IP, 34 SO, 10 BB, .206/.264/.458
• August: 1 GS, 0-1, 20.25 ERA, 2 2/3 IP, 1 SO, 1 BB, .538/.529/.846

Starting Lineups:

Broadcast Information:

• First pitch: 7:05 p.m.
• TV: CSN
• Radio: SportsRadio 94 WIP

Game Notes:

• The Phillies are 23-20 against division opponents this season. Their series opener loss on Thursday snapped an eight-game win streak against National League East clubs.
• Injury Report:
  • Mets
    • RHP Jacob deGrom (right triceps contusion), status uncertain
    • 3B T.J. Rivera (partially torn ulnar collateral ligament in right elbow), out indefinitely
    • RHP Zack Wheeler (right arm stress reaction), out indefinitely
    • RHP Robert Gsellman (left hamstring strain), possible mid-August return
    • LHP Tommy Milone (left knee sprain), possible mid-August return
    • RHP Matt Harvey (right shoulder stress reaction), possible late August return
    • RHP Jeurys Familia (right shoulder arterial blood clot surgery), possible late August return
    • RHP Noah Syndergaard (partial lat tear), possible September return
    • 3B David Wright (cervical disc herniation), out indefinitely
  • Phillies
    • RHP Vince Velasquez (right middle finger numbness), status uncertain
    • C Andrew Knapp (bruised right hand), possible early September return
    • OF Aaron Altherr (strained right hamstring), possible mid-August return
    • RHP Pedro Beato (strained left hamstring), out indefinitely
    • RHP Casey Fien (rotator cuff strain), out indefinitely
    • RHP Clay Buchholz (forearm surgery), possible September return
• Phillies center fielder Odubel Herrera is in the midst of the second-longest active hit streak at 13 games, which ties a career high previously set on July 25-August 10, 2015. Over this stretch, Herrera is batting .373/.407/.667 with eight runs, 19 hits, three home runs, eight RBIs, two walks and nine strikeouts spanning 51 at-bats.

What's Next:

• Saturday, August 12, 2017: vs. New York Mets, 7:05 p.m.
• Citizens Bank Park
• LHP Steven Matz (2-5, 5.77 ERA) vs. RHP Aaron Nola (8-7, 3.12 ERA)
• TV: NBC10; Radio: SportsRadio 94 WIP