By Matt Rappa, Sports Talk Philly editor 
FLUSHING, N.Y. — In Thursday evening's series finale against the New York Mets (8-7) at Citi Field, the Philadelphia Phillies (5-9) will look to avoid their seventh straight series defeat against their division rivals, as well as their fourth series defeat this season out of five overall.
Right-hander Aaron Nola will square off against RHP Noah Syndergaard, who left his last start on April 14 early due to a torn fingernail on his pitching hand.
Starter Vince Velasquez received the no-decision in Wednesday's 5-4 defeat. He tossed a season-high six innings and allowed three runs on five hits, three walks and two strikeouts. Mets right fielder Jay Bruce produced all five of the Mets' runs, going 3-5 with a pair of home runs. The Phillies edged the Mets 6-2 in extra innings in Tuesday's series opener.
Outfielder Michael Saunders was scratched from the starting lineup due to an illness, according to CSNPhilly.com's Jim Salisbury. Aaron Altherr will take his place in right, batting fifth.
Starting Pitching Matchup:
| Philadelphia Phillies (5-9) | New York Mets (8-7) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RHP | Aaron Nola | RHP | Noah Syndergaard | ||
| (1-0, 3.27 ERA) | (1-0, 0.95 ERA) | ||||
Nola Career vs. NYM: 0-1, 13.50 ERA, 4 IP, 9 H, 6 R, 6 ER, 2 HR, 0 BB, 4 SO, 2.250 WHIP
Nola, 23, has allowed four runs on 13 hits and two walks through 11 innings in his first two starts of the season against the Washington Nationals, home on April 8 and away on April 14. He has 13 strikeouts and like his opposition in Syndergaard, and has yet to surrender a home run.
The right-hander's only career start against the Mets came on Sept. 2, 2015, at Citi Field in his ninth career appearance overall. He suffered the losing decision as the Phillies fell 9-4.
Syndergaard Career vs. PHI: 4-0, 1.37 ERA, 26 1/3 IP, 17 H, 6 R, 4 ER, 3 HR, 6 BB, 30 SO, 0.873 WHIP
Syndergaard, 24, is undefeated in four career starts against the Phillies. During each of his two starts against the Phillies last season, the right-hander tossed seven innings while allowing just one earned run.
This season, the 2016 National League All-Star has allowed just two runs through 19 innings, striking out 20 while walking none.
Starting Lineups:
| Philadelphia Phillies (5-9) | New York Mets (8-7) | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Position | Player | Bats | Position | Player | Bats | ||
| 1 | 2B | Cesar Hernandez | S | 1 | RF | Curtis Granderson | L |
| 2 | LF | Daniel Nava | S | 2 | SS | Asdrubal Cabrera | S |
| 3 | CF | Odubel Herrera | L | 3 | LF | Yoenis Cespedes | R |
| 4 | 3B | Maikel Franco | R | 4 | 1B | Jay Bruce | L |
| 5 | RF | Aaron Altherr | R | 5 | 2B | Neil Walker | S |
| 6 | 1B | Tommy Joseph | R | 6 | CF | Michael Conforto | L |
| 7 | SS | Freddy Galvis | S | 7 | 3B | Jose Reyes | S |
| 8 | C | Andrew Knapp | S | 8 | P | Noah Syndergaard | L |
| 9 | P | Aaron Nola | R | 9 | C | Rene Rivera | R |
Broadcast Information:
- First pitch: 7:10 p.m.
- TV: CSN
- Radio: SportsRadio 94 WIP
What's Next:
- Friday, April 21, 2017: vs. Atlanta Braves, 7:05 p.m.
- Citizens Bank Park
- RHP Bartolo Colon (1-1, 4.24 ERA) vs. RHP Jeremy Hellickson (2-0, 1.59 ERA)
- TV: CSN; Radio: SportsRadio 94 WIP
