By Matt Rappa, Sports Talk Philly editor 
Aiming for their first series win in over a month, the Philadelphia Phillies (74-67) and RHP Vince Velasquez will take on the MLB ERA leader — RHP Jacob deGrom — and the New York Mets (64-77) in Sunday's matinee rubber match finale at Citi Field.
UPDATE: deGrom has been scratched due to inclement weather. Right-hander Corey Oswalt will start in his place.
Despite outhitting the Mets 14-11, the Phillies fell 10-5 in Saturday's contest opposite RHP Noah Syndergaard. The right-hander yielded 12 hits and five walks to the Phillies offense through 6 2/3 innings, however Phillies starter Zach Eflin's struggled, allowing six runs on four hits and three walks through four frames. Over five starts since his demotion to Triple-A Lehigh Valley due to roster manipulation, Eflin has posted a 7.71 ERA and allowed 20 earned runs on 36 hits. 3B/1B Carlos Santana extended his MLB second-best hitting streak to 10 games, while left fielder Rhys Hoskins launched his 29th home run of the season. Second baseman Cesar Hernandez went 4-4. Collectively, the Phillies offense left 12 on base and went 5-12 with runners in scoring position.
With the National League East-leading Atlanta Braves winning on Saturday, the Phillies fell to 3 1/2 games back with 21 to play. After Sunday, the Phillies have three games left against the Nationals (home, Sept. 10-12), three against the Miami Marlins (home, Sept. 14-16), another three games against the Mets (home, Sept. 17-19), four away against the Braves (Sept. 20-23), four away against the Colorado Rockies (Sept. 24-27) and three home against the Braves (Sept. 28-30) to conclude the season. After their Sunday finale against the Arizona Diamondbacks, the Braves still have to face the San Francisco Giants (3, away), Washington Nationals (3, home), St. Louis Cardinals (3, home), Phillies (4, home), Mets (3, away), and Phillies (3, home).
Starting Pitching Matchup:
| Philadelphia Phillies (74-67) | New York Mets (64-77) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RHP | Vince Velasquez | RHP | Jacob deGrom | ||
| (9-10, 4.10 ERA) | (8-8, 1.68 ERA) | ||||
RHP Vince Velasquez, Age: 27
- 2018 vs. NYM: 0-0, 0.00 ERA, 1 G, 1 GS, 6 IP, 2 H, 0 R, BB, 3 SO, 0.500 WHIP
- Career vs. NYM: 1-3, 3.78 ERA, 7 G, 7 GS, 33 1/3 IP, 28 H, 17 R, 14 ER, 5 HR, 13 BB, 33 SO, 1.230 WHIP
- Career at Citi Field: 1-0, 1.57 ERA, 4 G, 4 GS, 23 IP, 15 H, 4 R, 4 ER, HR, 8 BB, 21 SO, 1.000 WHIP
Velasquez is averaging one run allowed per career start at Citi Field, posting a combined 1.57 ERA and 1.000 WHIP at the venue through four outings. The right-hander yielded three runs against the Marlins in five innings in his most recent start, Sept. 3 at Marlins Park. Velasquez has allowed just one home run over his last 11 appearances and 47 2/3 innings since June 30.
RHP Jacob deGrom, Age: 27
- 2018 vs. PHI: 1-0, 0.00 ERA, 3 G, 3 GS, CG, 18 IP, 12 H, R, 0 ER, 0 HR, 4 BB, 18 SO, 0.889 WHIP
- Career vs. PHI: 7-1, 2.20 ERA, 14 G, 14 GS, 86 IP, 69 H, 27 R, 21 ER, 5 HR, 18 BB, 91 SO, 1.012 WHIP
- Career at Citi Field: 25-21, 2.17 ERA, 67 G, 67 GS, 435 IP, 328 H, 121 R, 105 ER, 28 HR, 116 BB, 521 SO, 1.021 WHIP
DeGrom has allowed just one unearned run through 18 innings against the Phillies this season. The five-year veteran has tossed 25 straight starts allowing three runs or fewer, which ties the MLB record set in 1910 by Chicago Cubs rookie RHP King Cole, per Elias. The right-hander has also thrown 20 straight quality starts, the longest active streak in the majors and the longest single-season streak in Mets history. Right-hander Tom Seaver threw 19 straight quality starts during his second Cy Young Award season in 1973.
Starting Lineups:
| Philadelphia Phillies (74-67) | New York Mets (64-77) | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Position | Player | Bats | Position | Player | Bats | ||
| 1 | 3B | Carlos Santana | S | 1 | SS | Amed Rosario | R |
| 2 | 1B | Justin Bour | L | 2 | 2B | Jeff McNeil | L |
| 3 | SS | Asdrubal Cabrera | S | 3 | LF | Michael Conforto | L |
| 4 | LF | Rhys Hoskins | R | 4 | 1B | Jay Bruce | L |
| 5 | RF | Jose Bautista | R | 5 | 3B | Todd Frazier | R |
| 6 | 2B | Cesar Hernandez | S | 6 | RF | Brandon Nimmo | L |
| 7 | CF | Odubel Herrera | L | 7 | CF | Austin Jackson | R |
| 8 | C | Jorge Alfaro | R | 8 | C | Kevin Plawecki | R |
| 9 | P | Vince Velasquez | R | 9 | P | Corey Oswalt | R |
Broadcast Information:
- First pitch: 1:10 p.m.
- TV: NBCSP
- Radio: SportsRadio 94 WIP
Game Notes:
- Sunday's Postseason Race Matchups:
- St. Louis Cardinals (RHP John Gant) at Detroit Tigers (RHP Michael Fulmer), 1:10 p.m.
- Chicago Cubs (LHP Mike Montgomery) at Washington Nationals (RHP Erick Fedde), 1:35 p.m.
- San Francisco Giants (LHP Madison Bumgarner) at Milwaukee Brewers (RHP Zach Davies), 2:10 p.m.
- Los Angeles Dodgers (LHP Rich Hill) at Colorado Rockies (LHP Tyler Anderson), 3:10 p.m.
- Atlanta Braves (RHP Touki Toussaint) at Arizona Diamondbacks (LHP Robbie Ray), 4:10 p.m.
- Active Phillies hit streaks of five or more games:
- Carlos Santana (10 games): 41 AB, 6 R, 14 H, 3 HR, 8 RBI, 2 BB, 5 SO, .341/.372/.610
- Asdrubal Cabrera (6): 22 AB, 3 R, 9 H, 2 HR, 6 RBI, 2 BB, 2 SO, .409/.458/.818
- Through 80 plate appearances this season against deGrom, active members of the Phillies are slashing .187/.238/.267 with 10 singles, three doubles, one home run (Justin Bour), two RBI, five walks and 22 strikeouts (click to expand).
What's Next:
Monday, Sept. 10, 2018: vs. Washington Nationals, 7:05 p.m.
- Citizens Bank Park, Philadelphia, Pa.
- RHP Erick Fedde (1-3, 6.00 ERA) vs. RHP Jake Arrieta (10-9, 3.61 ERA)
- TV: NBCSP, MLBN; Radio: SportsRadio 94 WIP
