Preview: Bryce Harper out of the lineup as the Phillies open up a 3-game set with the Mets

The Philadelphia Phillies square off against the New York Mets tonight at 7:10 EST for the first time in 2023.

Starting Pitchers

Ranger Suarez (0-1, 9.82 ERA)
Kodai Senga (4-3, 3.94 ERA)

If you haven’t already, grab a lighter or a pack of matches and burn the game tape from Sunday night.

Dylan Covey couldn’t make it through the first inning in his first start with the Phillies, allowing six hits and seven runs (five earned) in two-thirds of an inning.

Brandon Marsh and Kyle Schwarber both hit two-run home runs for the Phillies, but when you dig yourself a seven-foot hole in the bottom of the first inning, it’s pretty rare to mount a comeback. The hole was too deep and the Braves took the final game of the four game series 11-4 on Sunday Night Baseball.

Next up on the Phillies’ division road trip is the New York Mets, who currently sit 1.5 games above the Phillies (25-28) at 27-27 on the season.

New York enters tonight losers of two straight series against the Colorado Rockies and Chicago Cubs. Much like the Phillies, their starting rotation has been everything but reliable to start the 2023 season.

Mets Starters in 2023

Tyler Megill: 4.67 ERA
Kodai Senga: 3.94 ERA
Max Scherzer: 3.54 ERA
David Peterson: 8.08 ERA
Justin Verlander: 4.80 ERA
Carlos Carrasco: 6.75 ERA

The always cringeworthy Pete Alonso has led the way for the Mets’ offense to start the season with 20 home runs and 46 RBIs. Brandon Nimmo currently leads the team in batting average at .306, while Francisco Lindor has gotten off to a tough start, slashing just .225/.295/.423 in 54 games.

Bryce Harper is out of the lineup tonight after the Phillies had Memorial Day off.

No need to panic. According to Todd Zolecki of MLB.com, there’s nothing wrong with Bryce. The Phillies just wanted to give him an extra days rest after playing every game since returning from injury in early May. Why that would come against the New York Mets on the road is beyond me but I’m not going to question Rob Thomson or Bryce Harper at this moment in time so let’s keep it moving.

Phillies Starting Lineup

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Ranger Suarez vs. Kodai Senga

Ranger Suarez looks for the first great start of his season tonight after a rough first three games back from injury. Suarez has allowed twelve earned runs in 11 total innings this season, striking out just 13 and holding a 2.00 WHIP. He’s 0-1 on the year with a 9.28 ERA.

Kodai Senga has pitched great at home this season with a 2-1 record with a 1.57 ERA and 29 strikeouts in four starts at Citi Field.

Senga is definitely hittable and will enter tonight 4-3 with a 3.94 ERA, 61 K’s and 1.52 WHIP on the season. In his last outing, he struggled through five innings, allowing six hits and three earned runs.