Phillies look to end losing streak against Stroman and the Mets

For the second time in as many games, Nick Vincent, who was in Triple-A at this time last week, was given the ball in hopes of extending the game. In both instances, the Reds and Mets took advantage of a depleted Phillies bullpen and walked-off on a team whose playoff odds are quickly approaching zero.

The Phillies, however, still have a chance to win the series and gain some ground on the Cubs. They remain four games back behind the Cubs for the final NL Wild Card spot and are a game and a half back of the Arizona Diamondbacks, who have have won nine of their last ten games. The Phillies are also tied with the Brewers and Mets as all three teams hold an identical record of 72-68.

The team will send Drew Smyly to the mound. The 30-year-old left-hander only surrendered one earned run through five and a third against the Reds in his last start, which was his best outing since July 30. The bullpen has thrown a total of 29 innings in the last seven days, so the hope is that Smyly can put up a similar line as he did last time out and eat up innings.

For the second time in six days, the Phillies will face Marcus Stroman. The native of Medford, New York has posted a 4.55 ERA and 5.05 FIP since being traded from the Blue Jays to the Mets.

Here’s everything you need to know for tonight’s game against the Mets…

The Phillies may have lost last night, but enjoy J.T. Realmuto’s game-tying home run in Spanish.
pic.twitter.com/f5u7eRifjZ

— Phillies Nation (@PhilliesNation) September 7, 2019

Mets Lineup

1. Amed Rosario, short stop
2. Pete Alonso, first base
3. Jeff McNeil, second base
4. J.D. Davis, left field
5. Michael Conforto, right field
6. Todd Frazier, third base
7. Juan Lagares, center field
8. Tomas Nido, catcher
9. Marcus Stroman, pitcher

Phillies Lineup

1. César Hernández, second base
2. J.T. Realmuto, catcher
3. Corey Dickerson, left field
4. Rhys Hoskins, first base
5. Jean Segura, short stop
6. Brad Miller, third base
7. Scott Kingery, center field
8. Adam Haseley, right field
9. Drew Smyly, pitcher

Shibe Vintage Sports Starting Pitching Matchup

• Drew Smyly (3-6, 6.65 ERA, 6.74 FIP, 5.41 xFIP) vs. Marcus Stroman (7-12, 3.28 ERA, 3.82 FIP, 4.06 xFIP)
• Smyly only has one career relief appearance against the Mets. He threw a scoreless two thirds way back in 2013.
• Stroman gave up two earned runs on seven hits including three doubles through six innings last Sunday in Philadelphia.

Pregame Phillies Nuggets 

J.T. Realmuto spoke to the Athletic’s Megan Montemurro on Vincent being used in a high-leverage situation for a second consecutive night:

(I) told him not to hang his head because everybody here knows how tough that spot is he just got thrown into. He’d thrown three out of four (games) with being sick in a day. I’m sure he’s a little tired, a little worn out. Everybody in this clubhouse knows that’s a really tough spot he was just put in. 

• Per NBC Sports Philadelphia’s Corey Seidman, Bryce Harper is not in the Phillies lineup because he is unable to grip the bat after getting hit-by-a-pitch in Friday night’s loss to the Mets.
• For the first time in his career, Realmuto has homered in three consecutive ballgames. He is the eighth Phillies catcher to accomplish that feat. Realmuto leads all major league catchers in extra-base hits (60), RBI (78), hits (137) and runs (86).
• Smyly is 1-1 with a 3.18 ERA (6 ER, 17.0 IP) against the NL East this season.

Ticket IQ Programming Information

• 7:10 at Citi Field
• NBC Sports Philadelphia; Fox Sports 1
• Sportsradio 94 WIP; WTTM 1680 (Spanish)