The Philadelphia Phillies and New York Mets will conclude a long five-game series on Sunday night. The two teams will travel to Williamsport, Pennsylvania to play in the second annual Little League Classic. The two NL East rivals have split the first four games of the weekend series.
The Philadelphia Phillies would be a playoff team in the National League if the season ended today. The Phillies trail the Atlanta Braves by a slim margin in the NL East but hold a Wild Card spot in the National League. The New York Mets had to deal with injuries for much of the season, and won’t factor into the playoff picture in the 2018 season. The Philadelphia Phillies are -180 in the Little League Classic.
Cabrera Leading Mets Offense
Asdrubal Cabrera has been the most consistent player in the Mets lineup this season. He leads the team in almost every single offensive category, but his stats don’t add up to other leaders in the National League. He comes in with a .277 batting average to go along with 18 homers and 58 runs batted in. Cabrera will do his best to lead the Mets on Sunday night.
The Mets were supposed to feature one of the best starting rotations in baseball this season, but injuries have ruined that plan. Veteran Jason Vargas has been thrust into the Mets rotation, and he has struggled mightily this season. Vargas is 2-8 with a whopping 8.10 earned run average through 13 starts this season. He will look to change his fortune on Sunday night against the Phillies.
Pivetta Looks To Turn Season Around For Phillies
The Philadelphia Phillies need starter Nick Pivetta to turn their season around if they are going to win the NL East. The young right hander is just 7-9 with a 4.37 earned run average through 25 appearances this season. Pivetta has not made a start against the Mets in 2018, and should have the advantage of being seen for the first time in this game.
The Phillies must also find a way to score more runs if they want to reach the 2018 playoffs. They rank in the bottom third in MLB in total runs scored, and are near the bottom in team batting average. Maikel Franco leads the team with a .282 batting average, which is well below what leads most teams in the National League.
Philly Wins at Williamsport
The New York Mets have had a forgettable 2018 season, but they continue to battle the Philadelphia Phillies. The Mets scored 24 runs in a game this weekend and will try to take advantage of a struggling Pivetta on Sunday night. Look for Michael Conforto to have a big night as he is making his return to Williamsport.
The Phillies need to continue to pile up wins as they try to chase down the Braves in the NL East. Philadelphia has a very young roster, and that youth has caused them to be inconsistent this season. Look for the Phillies to break through on Sunday night and win the series finale against the Mets. Bet the Phillies -180 to defeat the Mets on Sunday night.
