Young arms face off as Phils and Mets open series

Aug 17, 2014; San Francisco, CA, USA; Philadelphia Phillies starting pitcher David Buchanan (55) throws a pitch against the San Francisco Giants during the second inning at AT&T Park. Mandatory Credit: Ed Szczepanski-USA TODAY Sports

The Philadelphia Phillies and New York Mets are calling on their young guns as the two teams battle for fourth place in the National League East Friday night.

David Buchanan, 25, of the Phillies is playing in just his 15th big-league game.  For the most part he has been viewed as the fill in for Cliff Lee who has battled elbow injuries this season.  He’s in a position to assert himself into the 2015 rotation.  Buchanan has lost twice to the Mets this season, allowing six earned runs (seven altogether) in 12.2 innings.

New York is sending 26-year-old Jacob deGrom to the hill for his 18th career game.  The righty faced the Phillies in his fourth career start on May 31st, going 6.1 innings and striking out 11 in a no-decision.  All three runs he allowed in that game were driven in by Ryan Howard who took him yard.

Buchanan (6-7, 4.21) and deGrom (6-6, 3.13) are relatively similar in their records, but deGrom is just a bit better.  This closeness is quite similar to the records of the Phillies (61-72) and Mets (62-72).  New York leads the season series 11-5, but the Phillies are looking to get out of last place in the NL East as they are just half a game behind.

Grady Sizemore, who has been in a limited role of late, gets the start in left field and will bat sixth in the lineup.  In the six hole this season, Sizemore is hitting .299 with ten extra-base hits and nine RBIs.  Two of his four home runs this season have come when he hit sixth.

The Phillies are currently ten games back in the NL Wild Card standings.  They have only finished last in the NL East six times since 1988.

Phillies lineup:

Revere CF

Rollins SS

Utley 2B

Howard 1B

Byrd RF

Sizemore LF

Ruiz C

Asche 3B

Buchanan P

Mets lineup:

Lagares CF

Granderson RF

Wright 3B

Duda 1B

d’Arnaud C

den Dekker LF

Herrera 2B

Flores SS

deGrom P