Phillies Series Preview: vs New York Mets
By Matt Veasey
KEYS TO VICTORY
KEEP THE HITS COMIN’: the Phillies offense was on fire heading into the MLB All-Star Game break, recording the top batting average in baseball over the previous month. After scoring as many as four runs in a game just 17 times over the season’s first two months, the Phillies have now reached that mark 15 over the last 19 games. Score four runs a game every night, and you will be a winning ball club. The Phillies need to keep the hits comin’ at home, especially from the key bats of Maikel Franco, Odubel Herrera, and Tommy Joseph.
PEN-MANSHIP: the bullpen needs to start producing, especially veteran right-handers David Hernandez and Andrew Bailey, and lefties Brett Oberholtzer and Daniel Stumpf. There is no doubt that manager Peter Mackanin would love to rest his two workhorse, end-game righties, Jeanmar Gomez and Hector Neris, with more frequency over the second half. However, both could be featured as possible trade chips over the next couple of weeks as well.
FAN-DEMONIUM: the team is playing well, winning, and has actually crept back into the NL Wildcard race. That is not an exaggeration. Now, can they push fully back into that discussion, winning big in their home ballpark against the two teams they are trying to catch, the Mets and Marlins, over the next week? If they can stay on a roll here at home, the Phillies have a chance to spark fan interest that could still turn the Dog Days of Summer into a real joyride. Get the fan base involved again. That base is dying for a return of good baseball.
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