Philadelphia, PA – Tonight in the series finale with the division-leading New York Mets (70-56), the Philadelphia Phillies (50-77) will look to avoid being swept for the 10th time of the season out of 41 total series.
The Mets have won each of their last eight contests against the Phillies, outscoring their opposition 74 runs to 38. A win today would bring New York within one victory shy of tying their longest winning streak against Philadelphia, which was set back in 1972.
Starting Pitching Matchup:
| New York Mets (70-56) | Philadelphia Phillies (50-77) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LHP | Jon Niese | RHP | Aaron Harang | ||
| (8-9, 3.80 ERA) | (5-14, 4.67 ERA) | ||||
Niese, 28, has won three of his last four starts at Citizens Bank Park, combining to allow just five earned runs in 29 innings.
The Phillies have hit .235/.296/.353 lifetime against the southpaw over 136 1/3 innings, with 29 doubles, one triple, 10 home runs, 41 walks and 113 strikeouts.
Harang, 37, last faced the Mets on May 9. He tossed seven innings, allowing three runs (two earned) on eight hits and a walk.
The 14-year veteran right hander is 8-8 with a 3.95 ERA and a 1.475 WHIP ratio in his career at Citizens Bank Park.
Starting Lineups:
| New York Mets (70-56) | Philadelphia Phillies (50-77) | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Position | Player | Bats | Position | Player | Bats | ||
| 1 | RF | Curtis Granderson | L | 1 | 2B | Cesar Hernandez | S |
| 2 | CF | Yoenis Cespedes | R | 2 | 3B | Andres Blanco | S |
| 3 | 1B | Daniel Murphy | L | 3 | CF | Odubel Herrera | L |
| 4 | 3B | David Wright | R | 4 | RF | Jeff Francoeur | R |
| 5 | 2B | Kelly Johnson | L | 5 | LF | Aaron Altherr | R |
| 6 | C | Travis d'Arnaud | R | 6 | 1B | Darin Ruf | R |
| 7 | LF | Nick Conforto | L | 7 | C | Carlos Ruiz | R |
| 8 | SS | Ruben Tejada | R | 8 | SS | Freddy Galvis | S |
| 9 | P | Jon Niese | L | 9 | P | Aaron Harang | R |
Game Notes:
- Center fielder Odubel Herrera is the Phillies' current active leader in WAR (wins above replacement) this season, 2.4. Over 23 games in the month of August, the rookie is batting .341/.388/.451 with four doubles, two home runs, six walks and eight runs-batted-in. Herrera is 3-7 in his career against Niese with two doubles and a triple.
- Over 30 career at-bats against Harang, Mets third baseman David Wright has four doubles, one home run, seven walks eight runs-batted-in.
- The Phillies are 21-29 against National League East opponents this season. Nearly one-third of those 29 losses have been against the New York Mets (11).
Broadcast Information:
- First-pitch: 7:05 pm EST
- TV: CSN
- Radio: 94 WIP, 1210 WPHT, WTTM 1680 (Sp.)
What's Next:
- Friday, August 28, 2015: vs. San Diego Padres, 7:05 pm
- RHP Ian Kennedy (8-11, 4.01 ERA) vs. RHP Aaron Nola (4-1, 3.59 ERA)
- TV: CSN; Radio: 94 WIP, 1210 WPHT, WTTM 1680 (Sp.)
- Saturday, August 29, 2015: vs. San Diego Padres, 7:05 pm
- RHP Colin Rea (2-1, 5.52 ERA) vs. LHP Adam Morgan (4-4, 4.43 ERA)
- TV: CSN; Radio: 98.1 WOGL, 1210 WPHT, WTTM 1680 (Sp.)
- Sunday, August 30, 2015: vs. San Diego Padres, 1:35 pm
- RHP James Shields (9-6, 3.89 ERA) vs. TBA
- TV: CSN; Radio: 94 WIP, 1210 WPHT, WTTM 1680 (Sp.)
Matt Rappa (@mattrappasports) is managing editor of Philliedelphia.com.
