Series Preview: Mets at Phillies, 8/14-8/16

It's still early in the season, right?  

With another opponent on the horizon, the Phillies will attempt to show that they aren't as bad as their 5-9 record would indicate.  Based on winning percentage, there's only one team (Pittsburgh) in the National League that has a worse record than the Phils.

The Mets (9-11) come to town and will open a three-game series beginning on Friday at Citizens Bank Park. 

Friday, 7:05pm.  Jacob deGrom (2-0, 2.45 ERA) vs. Spencer Howard (0-1, 7.71 ERA).  In 15 career starts against the Phillies the right-handed deGrom has a 7-1 record with a 2.23 ERA and a 1.00 WHIP.  In seven starts at CBP deGrom has a 3-0 record with two complete games.  Bryce Harper is 10-for-34 (.294 average) with two home runs in his career when facing deGrom.  The righty Howard, the Phillies' top ranked prospect headed into each of the past two seasons, made his big league debut last weekend, giving up four earned runs in 4 2/3 innings against the Braves.  Howard was the Phils' 2nd round draft in 2017. 

Saturday, 6:05pm.  Steven Matz (0-3, 8.20 ERA) vs. Aaron Nola (1-1, 2.79 ERA).  In 11 career appearances against the Phillies, Matz sports a 2-4 record, a 5.48 ERA and a 1.71 WHIP.  Matz has a 7.33 ERA in seven career starts at Citizens Bank Park.  Rhys Hoskins is 3-for-19 (.158 avg) against Matz...all three of his hits are homers.  Nola has a 7-1 record with 3.13 ERA in 13 career starts against the Mets.  This will mark Nola's 69th career start at CBP.  

Sunday, 1:05pm.  Rick Porcello (1-2, 5.68 ERA) vs. Zack Wheeler (2-0, 2.89 ERA).  In six career starts against the Phils, the righty Porcello has a 3-2 record with a 4.37 ERA.  Porcello has a 2-1 record with a 3.00 ERA in three starts at CBP.  Bryce Harper is 1-for-11 with a homer in his career when facing Porcello.  Wheeler, a former Met, has never faced the Mets before.  In 10 career starts at CBP, Wheeler sports a 5-1 record with a 3.16 ERA. 

Jay Bruce is a combined 0-for-11 in his career against deGrom and Matz, but is 2-for-8 with a double and a home run against Porcello.  Bruce is a .217 career hitter in 57 games against the Mets.  

Phils closer Hector Neris has a 5.30 ERA in 36 career appearances against the Mets.  

Andrew McCutchen is a .298 hitter with seven homers in 64 games against the Mets.  In 76 games at CBP, Cutch sports a .254 average.  

In eight road games to start the season, Pete Alonso is batting .125.  Alonso has a .308 average with one home run in 10 games at Citizens Bank Park.  

Michael Conforto has 19 career homers, his most against any team, in 67 games facing the Phillies. 

The Phillies' 20 team home runs match the Mets' total of 20, but the Phils have notched their total in six less games played.