Phillies tab No. 4 prospect J.P. Crawford for major league debut against deGrom, Mets

Infield prospect J.P. Crawford batting in the Phillies Future Series at FirstEnergy Stadium in March 2016. (Frank Klose/Sports Talk Philly) 

By Matt Rappa, Sports Talk Philly editor

FLUSHING, N.Y. — Upon the highly-anticipated major league debut of No. 4 club prospect J.P. Crawford, the Philadelphia Phillies (52-85) will face right-hander Jacob deGrom and the New York Mets (59-78) Tuesday evening in the second of the three-game series at Citi Field.

Once considered the Phillies' top shortstop prospect, Crawford, 22, will start at third base and bat seventh. Crawford was selected 16th overall in the 2013 amateur draft out of Lakewood High School. The Long Beach, California native batted .243/.351/.405 with 41 extra-base hits and 63 RBIs in 127 games this season with Triple-A Lehigh Valley.

Crawford takes the 40-man roster spot of  INF/OF Pedro Florimon, who was placed on the 60-day disabled list on Tuesday with a right ankle dislocation.

The Phillies fell 11-7 to the Mets in Monday's Labor Day and series opener matinee. Rookie RHP Mark Leiter Jr. struggled on the mound, allowing nine runs (eight earned) through just 3 1/3 innings. Despite being down 10-0 after four, the Phillies would decrease the deficit to four by scoring one run in the fifth, four runs in the sixth and two runs in the ninth innings. Center fielder Odubel Herrera extended his league-leading hit streak to 18 games with a pinch-hit RBI single in the ninth, his first appearance since August 14 (left hamstring strain).

The Phillies have lost four of their last five games against the Mets, allowing six runs or more in each of the defeats. Since the start of last season, the Phillies are 11-22 (.333) against their division rivals, outscored 198-124 through 33 games.

Starting Pitching Matchup:

Lively Career vs. NYM: 0-1, 2.84 ERA, 1 G, 1 GS, 6 1/3 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 0 HR, 4 BB, 2 SO, 1.421 WHIP

Lively, 25, will make his 11th career start and second against the Mets at Citi Field. Despite allowing just two runs through 6 1/3 innings at the venue on June 30, Lively suffered the loss as the Phillies' offense mustered just one run on four hits against deGrom (seven innings) and the Mets' bullpen.

The Pensacola, Florida native is coming of his second career victory and first since his big league debut in early June. In six innings away against the Marlins on August 31, Lively allowed just two runs on seven hits, a walk and five strikeouts. Seven of the right-hander's 10 career outings thus far have been quality starts.

Season Splits, By Month:

• April: 0 GS
• May: 0 GS
• June: 6 GS, 1-3, 3.72 ERA, 38 2/3 IP, 13 SO, 12 BB, .283/.344/.462
• July: 1 GS, 0-1, 4.50 ERA, 4 IP, 4 SO, BB, .294/.316/.471
• August: 3 GS, 1-1, 5.29 ERA, 17 IP, 17 SO, 5 BB, .281/.361/.531

deGrom Career vs. PHI: 6-0, 2.10 ERA, 10 G, 10 GS, 1 CG, 1 SHO, 64 1/3 IP, 47 H, 17 R, 15 ER, 4 HR, 12 BB, 68 SO, 0.917 WHIP

In three starts and 19 2/3 innings this season against the Phillies, deGrom, 29, is 2-0 with a 1.37 ERA, 24-3 strikeout-to-walk ratio and 0.814 WHIP. DeGrom has yet to lose to the Phillies through 10 career meetings overall. The Mets have won each of the 10 games, outscoring the Phillies 60-22.

The DeLand, Florida native has fallen in two straight starts at home.

Season Splits, By Month:

• April: 5 GS, 1-1, 2.84 ERA, 31 2/3 IP, 44 SO, 11 BB, .222/.289/.350
• May: 6 GS, 3-1, 4.95 ERA, 36 1/3 IP, 48 SO, 18 BB, .262/.348/.455
• June: 5 GS, 4-1, 2.75 ERA, 36 IP, 33 SO, 9 BB, .195/.245/.320
• July: 5 GS, 4-1, 2.52 ERA, 35 2/3 IP, 37 SO, 5 BB, .223/.255/.385
• August: 6 GS, 2-4, 3.92 ERA, 39 IP, 44 SO, 9 BB, .260/.300/.420

Starting Lineups:

Broadcast Information:

• First pitch: 7:10 p.m.
• TV: CSN
• Radio: SportsRadio 94 WIP

Game Notes:

• Crawford slashed .285/.385/.544 with 13 home runs and 36 RBIs over his final 61 games dating back to July 1. He started the season slashing only .203/.321/.276 with two home runs and 27 RBIs through 66 games.
• The only active members of the Phillies with extra-bases in their careers against deGrom are third baseman Maikel Franco (double) and catcher Cameron Rupp (home run). Herrera is 5-24 lifetime against deGrom with a RBI and six strikeouts.

• Injury Report:
  • Phillies
    • INF/OF Pedro Florimon (right ankle dislocation), possible 2018 return
    • C Andrew Knapp (bruised right hand), possible early September return
    • RHP Jerad Eickhoff (right hand nerve irritation), possible 2018 return
    • RHP Zach Eflin (strained right shoulder), status uncertain
    • RHP Vince Velasquez (right middle finger numbness), possible 2018 return
    • RHP Clay Buchholz (forearm surgery), possible September return
  • Mets
    • SS Amed Rosario (right index finger contusion), day-to-day
    • 3B Wilmer Flores (broken nose), day-to-day
    • 3B T.J. Rivera (needed Tommy John surgery, right elbow), possible 2018 return
    • 3B David Wright (right rotator cuff shoulder pain), possible 2018 return
    • OF Yoenis Cespedes (right hamstring strain), possible 2018 return
    • OF Michael Conforto (left shoulder posterior capsule tear), out indefinitely
    • LHP Steven Matz (left elbow compressed nerve), possible 2018 return
    • RHP Zack Wheeler (right arm stress reaction), possible 2018 return
    • RHP Noah Syndergaard (partial lat tear), possible mid-September return

• Active Hit Streaks (* indicates player is injured):
  • PHI OF Odubel Herrera, 18
  • NYM SS/3B Jose Reyes, 10
  • NYM OF Norichika Aoki, 7
  • PHI INF/OF Pedro Florimon*, 7
  • NYM OF Yoenis Cespedes*, 5
  • NYM OF Juan Lagares, 5

What's Next:

• Wednesday, Sept. 6, 2017: at New York Mets, 7:10 p.m.
• Citi Field
• RHP Nick Pivetta (5-9, 6.28 ERA) vs. RHP Robert Gsellman (5-6, 5.60 ERA)
• TV: CSN; Radio: SportsRadio 94 WIP