In the next 14 games, the Phillies will face NL East opponents 11 times. Seven of those are against the Mets. Three are against the Astros.
Get excited!
Woo! /cries
A.J. Burnett takes the mound in what could be his last start as a Phillie. But it's three days before the trade deadline, so there are a lot of possible lasts happening. It's Marlon Byrd's last strikeout as a Phillie! It's Antonio Bastardo's last terrible outing as a Phillie! It's Jonathan Papelbon's last cat's-anus-mouth face as a Phillie! (Oh God let it be so.)
Chase Utley is out of the lineup and Reid Brignac is at second base tonight. It seems like a regular night off and no reason for alarm. But if there is any reason for alarm, I'll be ON IT and alarmed as necessary.
Say hello to the Mets, everyone. We'll be seeing a lot of them. Discuss the game in the comments below.