Phillies Opposition Roadblock: New York Mets

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

The Phillies have reached the final part of this ridiculous stretch. The final three games of twelve straight against the Nationals and New York Mets have arrived. This time, the Phillies will be hoping to erase their mental block against the Mets at Citi Field.

The Phils can’t seem to get out of their own way against their rivals. The course has been reversed since the run of division titles the Phils enjoyed that started a decade ago. Now, the Phils are trying to find their way back up and the Mets are enjoying the look from the top of the division.

The Phillies come in at a great time for the Mets. The home team just lost three consecutive games to the Marlins after winning the first of four in the 16^th inning. While the Phillies are hoping to reverse their luck in New York, the Mets are looking to rebound from the tough series.

They have prolific pitching to boast around town. They have veteran bats that are beginning to come alive. And they are getting their All-Star closer back this week, which will make their bullpen much deeper. Things are once again looking bright in New York.

Especially bright if you look at the armor of this week’s roadblock pick.

The Position Player: Yoenis Cespedes

A week ago, the Phillies welcomed a limping Met offense into Citizen’s Bank Park. Throughout the course of game one, it looked as though the struggles would continue with Eickhoff dominating a majority of the game. Then, our roadblock pick, Jay Bruce, hit his second of two homeruns on the night. From that point on, the Mets owned the series.

Thanks in part to Yoenis Cespedes. I had the sheer pleasure of sitting in the Diamond Club on Tuesday night for the show that Cespedes put on against Clay Buchholz and Adam Morgan. I have seen some impressive homeruns in my baseball going days, but never anything like the moonshots Cespedes was displaying on that gorgeous evening.

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Cespedes can be controlled, however, and we saw that last week. If you are able to get ahead of him early with good pitches, he will chase. Making a pitch way out of the zone to him ahead 0-2 and 1-2 is not wasting a pitch. As a matter of fact, it may be better than trying to freeze him with something in the zone.

As Zach Eflin makes his first start in 2017, the Phillies hope this turn in the rotation goes much better than the first time the Mets saw it. After Eflin’s start, it will be up to Vinny Velasquez to try and get himself on track and Aaron Nola to continue his encouraging start.

If they want success, it will start with getting Cespedes out, or at least helping Cespedes get himself out.