Phillies’ Nola aims for 10th straight quality start against Mets

Over his last nine starts, Philadelphia Phillies' RHP Aaron Nola is 5-2 with a 1.76 ERA and 70 strikeouts through 61 1/3 innings. (hj_west/Flickr Creative Commons)

By Matt Rappa, Sports Talk Philly editor

PHILADELPHIA — The Philadelphia Phillies (42-71) will aim to snap their five-game home losing skid to the New York Mets (52-61) Saturday evening in the third of the four-game series at Citizens Bank Park. Right-hander Aaron Nola will oppose Mets southpaw Steven Matz.

Phillies center fielder Odubel Herrera will look to extend his career-long hitting streak to 15 games. In 60 games and 247 plate appearances since June 1, Herrera is batting .342/.385/.584 with 23 doubles, three triples, nine home runs, 15 walks and 31 RBIs. The Venezuelan native has raised his batting average 67 points since the start of June, .218 to .285.

Last night, the Phillies fell 7-6 as Mets rookie shortstop Amed Rosario broke a 6-6 tie in the ninth with a solo home run to right center against RHP Hector Neris. The Phillies offense capitalized early in the first against Mets' starter Seth Lugo, with RBIs from Nick Williams, Maikel Franco and Tommy Joseph. Phillies' top slugging prospect Rhys Hoskins batted in the cleanup position for the first time and went 0-4 with a run scored, walk and two strikeouts.

Prior to Saturday's action, as part of Toyota Alumni Weekend, the Phillies will honor the members of their Wall of Fame, including Steve Carlton (1989), Mike Schmidt (1990), Larry Bowa (1991), Dick Allen (1994), Greg Luzinski (1998), Garry Maddox (2001), Tony Taylor (2002), Bob Boone (2005), Juan Samuel (2008), John Kruk (2011), Mike Lieberthal (2012), Charlie Manuel (2014) and Jim Thome (2016). No new member will be inducted in the annual ceremony for the first time since 1983. Major League Baseball's all-time hits leader, Pete Rose, was slated to be enshrined, however the ceremony was cancelled due to statutory rape allegations.

Starting Pitching Matchup:

Matz Career vs. PHI: N/A

After going 2-1 with a 2.12 ERA over his first five starts this season, Matz is 0-4 with a 11.03 ERA in his six starts since, allowing five or more runs in two-thirds of the latter outings. Over this six-start stretch, opposing batters are hitting .418/.449/.700 against the southpaw with 28 singles, nine doubles, three triples and six home runs spanning 110 at-bats.

Matz, 26, will make his 40th career start and his first against the Phillies. In 225 2/3 innings overall, the three-year veteran is 15-13 with a 3.83 ERA and 206-56 strikeout-to-walk ratio.

Season Splits, By Month:

• April: 0 GS
• May: 0 GS
• June: 4 G, 4 GS, 2-1, 2.67 ERA, 27 IP, 18 SO, 7 BB, .220/.271/.410
• July: 5 G, 5 GS, 0-3, 9.30 ERA, 20 1/3 IP, 16 SO, 4 BB, .400/.426/.632
• August: 2 G, 2 GS, 0-1, 6.97 ERA, 10 1/3 IP, 9 SO, 4 BB, .308/.372/.538

Nola Career vs. NYM: 1-1, 10.00 ERA, 2 G, 2 GS, 9 IP, 16 H, 10 R, 10 ER, 3 HR, 4 BB, 6 SO, 2.222 WHIP

Nola, 24, has the third-lowest ERA among qualified National League pitchers in the second half (1.97), trailing only the St. Louis Cardinals' Lance Lynn (1.73) and the Washington Nationals' Gio Gonzalez (1.75).

The right-hander has thrown nine straight starts of six-plus innings while allowing two earned runs or fewer. Per Elias, Nola is the only Phillies pitcher since 1900 to accomplish such feat.

Season Splits, By Month:

• April: 3 GS, 2-0, 4.50 ERA, 16 IP, 15 SO, 6 BB, .317/.377/.413
• May: 3 GS, 0-3, 5.63 ERA, 16 IP, 14 SO, 5 BB, .242/.309/.387
• June: 5 GS, 3-2, 3.24 ERA, 33 1/3 IP, 35 SO, 11 BB, .220/.284/.350
• July: 5 GS, 3-1, 1.32 ERA, 34 IP, 43 SO, 8 BB, .192/.241/.304
• August: 2 GS, 0-1, 2.77 ERA, 13 IP, 10 SO, 3 BB, .269/.309/.346

Starting Lineups:

Broadcast Information:

• First pitch: 7:05 p.m.
• TV: NBC10
• Radio: SportsRadio 94 WIP

Game Notes:

• The only active members of the Mets to have previously homered against Nola are second baseman Neil Walker and outfielder Michael Conforto. No active Phillie has yet to face Matz in their respective careers.
• 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), possible late August return
    • 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
• A win on Saturday would secure the Mets their 17th series win against the Phillies out of the last 20 overall. The Mets are 34-15 against the Phillies dating back to the 2015 season.

What's Next:

• Sunday, August 13, 2017: vs. New York Mets, 1:35 p.m.
• Citizens Bank Park
• RHP Chris Flexen (1-1, 8.49 ERA) vs. RHP Zach Eflin (1-3, 5.67 ERA)
• TV: CSN; Radio: SportsRadio 94 WIP