Thursday, September 17, 2020

Game 48 - 2020 Topps Now #16 Zack Wheeler

Mets 5
, Phillies 4
Game 48 - Wednesday Night, September 16th in Philadelphia
Record - 24-24, 3rd Place, 4 games behind the Braves

One Sentence Summary:  Zack Wheeler, gnarly ruined fingernail and all, battled through 7 1/3 innings only to have the bullpen duo of Adam Morgan and Hector Neris blow another game in this 5-4 loss to the Mets.

What It Means:  The Phillies are currently the 7th seed in the expanded playoff format, and they're in danger of slipping out of the picture entirely.

What Happened:  Wheeler, pitching with a broken, swollen and glued together fingernail, scattered seven hits over his outing, allowing three runs.  He allowed a two-run home run to J.D. Davis in the sixth, allowing the Mets to creep to within a run, 4-3.  Morgan entered in the eighth, allowed a walk and a double to Davis to tie the score.  In the ninth, Robinson Cano scorched a single up the middle off Neris and was pinch-run for by Armed Rosario.  Rosario went to second on a balk when Neris dropped the ball on the mound, and he'd score the eventual winning run when Andres Gimenez singled to center.

Not to be lost in this loss, the Phillies offense is scuffling too.  Bryce Harper is in the depths of a horrible slump, and the Phillies struck out 10 times in their final 16 at-bats of this game.  Jean Segura was the sole bright spot, going 4 for 4 with a double and a home run.

Featured Card:  Wheeler deserved better.  The Phillies bullpen now has a 7.05 ERA with 12 blown saves.  As a group, the Phillies relievers have been historically bad.

Transaction:  As expected, Jake Arrieta (rhp) was placed on the injured list with a hamstring strain and Kyle Garlick (of) also landed on the IL with a right oblique strain.  Connor Brogdon (rhp) and Mickey Moniak (of) were recalled to take their spots on the roster.  Moniak, the team's #1 draft pick from 2016, made his big league debut in the ninth inning, entering as a pinch-runner for Alec Bohm.

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