Phillies vs. New York Mets for 2018
By Tal Venada
Divisional adversaries:
When you compare Jacob deGrom and Noah Syndergaard to Jake Arrieta and Aaron Nola, New York has a limited advantage. On average, however, if these four face each other, the rubber game will be in the hands of both third starters.
The balance of the Mets’ rotation features an injury-plagued southpaw, a comeback candidate, and an innings-eating addition. Locally, the red pinstripes have two flamethrowers among their five possibilities including two with injury concerns.
Runs scored in 2017:
- Total: the Mets with 735 and the Phillies with 690.
- Second half: the Phillies with 358 and the Mets with 329.
The run production for our northern neighbor will come from Yoenis Cespedes (RH), Jay Bruce (LH) and Todd Frazier (RH), while the table setters are Michael Conforto (LH) and Asdrubal Cabrera (SH). Also, they have a .300-hitting prospect: Their rookie shortstop had solid Triple-A stats.
Mets offense:
- Cespedes, 32.5: .292, 17 HR, 42 RBI, .352 OBP and an .892 OPS.
- Conforto, 25: .279, 27 HR, 68 RBI, .384 OBP and a .939 OPS.
- Cabrera, 32.5: .280, 14 HR, 59 RBI, .351 OBP and a .785 OPS.
- Bruce, almost 31: .254, 36 HR, 101 RBI and a .832 OPS.
- Frazier, 32: .213, 27 HR, 76 RBI and a .772 OPS.
Phillies offense:
- Santana, almost 32: .259, 23 HR, 79 RBI, .363 OBP and an .818 OPS.
- Hoskins, 25: .259, 18 HR, 48 RBI, .396 OBP and a 1.014 OPS.
- Herrera, 26: .281, 14 HR, 56 RBI and a .778 OPS.
- Hernandez, 27.5: .294, 9 HR, a .373 OBP and a .793 OPS.
- Altherr, 27: ,272, 19 HR, 65 RBI, .340 OBP and an .856 OPS.
- Franco, 25.5: .230, 24 HR, 76 RBI and a .690 OPS.
As for the Phils, Carlos Santana (SH) and Rhys Hoskins (RH) are the primary RBI men, while leadoff hitter Cesar Hernandez (SH) and Odubel Herrera (LH) in the three hole will be the run scorers on many occasions. Additionally, right-handed hitters Aaron Altherr and Maikel Franco are secondary run producers with a rookie second baseman on the horizon.