By Matt Rappa, Sports Talk Philly editor 
PHILADELPHIA — Prior to embarking on a seven-day, seven-game west coast trip, the Philadelphia Phillies (43-71) will look to split their four-game series against the New York Mets (52-62) in Sunday's finale matinee at Citizens Bank Park.
Right-hander Zach Eflin will oppose rookie RHP Chris Flexen. Phillies' top slugging prospect Rhys Hoskins will get his major league first start at first base, a position where he fielded 890 innings with only eight errors in 857 chances earlier this season for Triple-A Lehigh Valley.
The Phillies snapped their five-game home losing skid to the Mets in Saturday's 3-1 win. Right-hander Aaron Nola tossed his 10th straight quality start, with just one run allowed through seven innings and 108 pitches (70 strikes). Center fielder Odubel Herrera extended his career-long hitting streak to 15 games, the longest by a Phillie since franchise hits leader Jimmy Rollins in 2014. Right fielder Nick Williams went 1-1 with a run, infield single, two walks and hit-by-pitch in four plate appearances.
As part of the final day of Toyota Alumni Weekend, more than three dozen former Phillies will be recognized prior to the game. The late Darren Daulton will be honored, while Del Unser will throw out the ceremonial first pitch to his former teammate, Bob Boone, in celebration of his 50 years in baseball.
Starting Pitching Matchup:
| New York Mets (52-62) | Philadelphia Phillies (43-71) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RHP | Chris Flexen | RHP | Zach Eflin | ||
| (1-1, 8.49 ERA) | (1-3, 5.67 ERA) | ||||
Flexen Career vs. PHI: N/A
Flexen, 23, will make his fourth career start and his first against a National League East opponent. Thus far, the Newark, California native has yet to reach the six-inning plateau in an outing. He tossed only three frames in each of his first two starts (3 ER at San Diego Padres, 5 ER at Colorado Rockies), but lasted 5 2/3 innings (3 ER vs. Texas Rangers) during his Citi Field debut on August 8.
The rookie right-hander is filling in for injured Mets RHP Zack Wheeler (right arm stress reaction) in the rotation.
Season Splits, By Month:
- April: 0 GS
- May: 0 GS
- June: 0 GS,
- July: 1 GS, 0-1, 9.00 ERA, 3 IP, 2 SO, 4 BB, .417/.588/.750
- August: 2 GS, 1-0, 8.31 ERA, 8 2/3 IP, 6 SO, 4 BB, .333/.415/.694
Eflin Career vs. NYM: 0-1, 3.27 ERA, 2 G, 2 GS, 11 IP, 8 H, 5 R, 4 ER, HR, 5 BB, 6 SO, 1.182 WHIP
Eflin, 23, returns for his second start since his August 8 promotion from Triple-A Lehigh Valley, where in seven innings against the Atlanta Braves at SunTrust Park he allowed only runs on seven hits and a walk.
Overall this season, the right-hander is 1-3 with a 5.67 ERA and 28-10 strikeout-to-walk ratio through 54 innings. Five of his nine outings have been quality starts.
Season Splits, By Month:
- April: 3 GS, 0-0, 1.89 ERA, 19 IP, 11 SO, 3 BB, .149/.208/.313
- May: 5 GS, 0-3, 9.00 ERA, 28 IP, 14 SO, 6 BB, .407/.432/.669
- June: 0 GS
- July: 0 GS
- August: 1 GS, 1-0, 2.57 ERA, 7 IP, 3 SO, BB, .269/.296/.385
Starting Lineups:
| New York Mets (52-62) | Philadelphia Phillies (43-71) | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Position | Player | Bats | Position | Player | Bats | ||
| 1 | RF | Curtis Granderson | L | 1 | 2B | Cesar Hernandez | S |
| 2 | 2B | Asdrubal Cabrera | S | 2 | SS | Freddy Galvis | S |
| 3 | CF | Michael Conforto | L | 3 | CF | Odubel Herrera | L |
| 4 | 3B | Wilmer Flores | R | 4 | 1B | Rhys Hoskins | R |
| 5 | 1B | Dominic Smith | L | 5 | RF | Nick Williams | L |
| 6 | C | Travis d'Arnaud | R | 6 | 3B | Maikel Franco | R |
| 7 | LF | Brandon Nimmo | L | 7 | LF | Hyun Soo Kim | L |
| 8 | SS | Jose Reyes | S | 8 | C | Jorge Alfaro | R |
| 9 | P | Chris Flexen | R | 9 | P | Zach Eflin | R |
Broadcast Information:
- First pitch: 1:35 p.m.
- TV: CSN
- Radio: SportsRadio 94 WIP
Game Notes:
- Prior to the game, the Mets purchased the contract of RHP Kevin McGowan from Triple-A Las Vegas. In 44 games this season, McGowan went 5-4 with a 4.06 ERA and 1.355 WHIP.
- Injury Report:
- Mets
- RHP Jacob deGrom (right triceps contusion), August 15 return
- 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
- Mets
- Phillies second baseman Cesar Hernandez has 32 hits in 97 at-bats (.330) since his July 17 return from the disabled list. He has reached safely in 32 of his 37 home starts in 2017.
What's Next:
- Monday, August 14, 2017: at San Diego Padres, 10:10 p.m.
- Petco Park
- RHP Jerad Eickhoff (3-7, 4.45 ERA) vs. LHP Travis Wood (2-4, 6.71 ERA)
- TV: CSN; Radio: SportsRadio 94 WIP
