Phillies Opposition Roadblock: New York Mets

Apr 3, 2017; New York City, NY, USA; General view of fans outside Citi Field before a game between the New York Mets and the Atlanta Braves. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

After this next series, the Phillies will be happy to leave their first fifteen games behind them. Another set with the New York Mets awaits them, but coming off a difficult series loss in Washington, bouncing back at Citi Field will be no easy task.

A couple of Phillies bullpen implosions in three days resulted in losing two out of three to the Washington Nationals. Despite solid starts from Aaron Nola and Jerad Eickhoff, the Phils bullpen was unable to get the job done in the bookend games to the series. The Phillies let a golden opportunity to sweep the Nats on the road slip through their fingers. Time to check in and see how the roadblocks in Washington performed over the weekend.

As the series began, the player to keep in check seemed to be Daniel Murphy. And, all things considered, the Phillies did a fairly decent job of holding Murphy over the three games (3-15, two doubles and an RBI). The problem is that one of his three hits this weekend was the hit to beat the Phils on Friday evening.

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The only game in which Murphy did not have a hit was the middle game in the set (the only win the Phillies mustered this weekend). While Bryce Harper was the epitome of difference-maker in this series, Murphy’s game one performance, including the 10^th inning walk-off double was still notable.

Phils Grade: B

Stephen Strasburg had nearly identical numbers to his first start against the Phillies less than a week before this one. His seven innings, five hits and eight strikeouts were the same as the previous Sunday. The two runs and two walks were both better than the first time around against the Phils. He did allow a home run to Tommy Joseph early on and left the game down a run. His team would eventually tie the game and win in extra innings, scoring Strasburg his second consecutive

His team would eventually tie the game and win in extra innings, scoring Strasburg his second consecutive no decision. He had much better stuff this time around, and despite the early homer and fifth inning run the Phils scratched across, Strasburg was in complete control of the Phillies lineup.

He had much better stuff this time around, and despite the early homer and fifth inning run the Phils scratched across, Strasburg was in complete control of the Phillies lineup.

Phils Grade: C

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