Phillies set for doubleheader with Mets
The New York Mets welcome the Philadelphia Phillies to Citi Field as the two clubs open a four-game set with a doubleheader on Monday. The two clubs are heading in opposite directions in the NL East standings as the Phillies sit atop the division 11 games over .500 while the Mets have dropped six of their last ten and sit with 35 wins, the second fewest in the National League.

Zach Eflin will start for the Phillies in game one, opposing Zack Wheeler.

Eflin has been masterful since the start of June, going 6-0 with a 1.91 ERA over his last six starts. Wheeler, meanwhile, has fallen victim to a lousy Mets offense and is winless over his last 11 starts while posting a respectable 3.76 ERA.

It's been that type of year so far for the Mets. The club was shutout on Sunday by Tampa Bay, 9-0, and have not won a series since late May.

“You can almost get lucky and win a series,” Mets manager Mickey Callaway told reporters Sunday. “But it just hasn’t happened for us.”

The second game on Monday features newly minted All-Star Aaron Nola facing righty Corey Oswalt.

Nola, who is sporting an 11-2 mark to go with a 2.41 ERA, was named an All-Star on Sunday and is the first Phillies starting pitcher since Cliff Lee in 2013 to receive the honor.

"I wasn't really trying to pitch to be an All-Star," Nola told reporters Sunday. "I was just trying to do my job for the team, and try to win for the team, and do my part."

Did You Know?
Eflin is the first Phillies pitcher to win six straight starts since 2011 when Cliff Lee won seven straight from July 30 to September 5.  Also, since 2000, Only Eflin, Lee and Roy Halladay (6, 7/23-8/20/10) have won six straight starts as a Phillie.

Starting Lineup Game 1
Hernandez 4
Hoskins 7
Herrera 8
Santana 3
Williams 9
Kingery 6
Knapp 2
Franco 5
Eflin 1
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Follow Patrick on Twitter: @PGordonPBR

BY PATRICK GORDON
Managing Editor
pgordon@philadelphiabaseballreview.com

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