By Matt Rappa, Sports Talk Philly editor 
The Philadelphia Phillies and the New York Mets are among the National League's top teams so far in the 2019 season.
Entering Wednesday, the Phillies own the NL's second-best winning percentage (.625) and run differential (+16), while the Mets have scored the second-most runs (101) with a fourth-best .588 winning percentage.
Clearly, at least as of now, the rivalry that thrived between both clubs during late 00s and early 10s is back. Not only are the Phillies and Mets competing for first place in the National League East, but they are also showing "strong interest" for a Texas Rangers southpaw starter to bolster their stating rotations — eight-year veteran Mike Minor, according to USA Today's Bob Nightengale.
Minor, 31, is off to a good season so far for the 9-7 Rangers. Over his last three starts, he has allowed just two runs (both solo home runs) on 13 hits, six walks and 19 strikeouts spanning 23 innings and 84 batters faced. In his most recent outing, home on Tuesday against the Los Angeles Angels, Minor tossed a complete game shutout, allowing just three singles and two walks while punching out seven.
The Phillies eyed Minor in a potential trade as recently as this past offseason, around the same time they also coveted fellow veteran southpaw Andrew Miller who as a free agent would go on to sign with the St. Louis Cardinals.
According to Baseball-Reference, Minor is owed just over $9.8 million both this season and in 2020. The Phillies and Mets will face off Wednesday afternoon in the rubber match of their three-game series at Citizens Bank Park.
