The Phillies have a ton of offensive momentum after a series sweep against the Nationals. Can they carry it into this set with the New York Mets?
The Phillies are coming off a big, early season series win against the NL East favorite Washington Nationals. Not far behind the Nats in those predictions loom the New York Mets. Philadelphia starts their series with that division rival Monday night. Let’s take a look at who the Phillies need to key on to win the upcoming series.
The Phillies took two out of three from the Nationals in their first series of 2017. As you know, I chose Max Scherzer and Trea Turner as the roadblock duo for Washington. Below, you will find their stats for the series.
Scherzer (6.2 IP, four hits, two runs, two walks, and seven strikeouts) seemed as though he was just toying with the Phillies during their first trip through the order. He was throwing whatever pitch he felt like at any time. A young Phillies lineup was way out in front of changeups in fastball counts and caught staring at fastballs in breaking ball counts.
He was able to scatter four hits and two walks over the 6.2 innings he pitched. With two outs in the seventh, Dusty Baker lifted his ace after back-to-back walks. One of them would cross the plate. The Phils struggled with Scherzer but were able to get him out of the game in enough time to make a convincing comeback against a weak Washington bullpen.
Phils Grade: C-
Turner’s series did not go as well as the Nationals would have hoped. Not only did the 23-year-old shortstop go 0-5 with three strikeouts on Friday, but was lifted from the Saturday’s game with a hamstring strain. He will be out for a minimum of ten games before the Nats make a decision on how they will proceed. Oddly enough, the only appearance he made, and it was a pretty awful day for him, was the game the Nationals won.
Phils Grade: N/A due to injury