Game Thread, 7/11: Phillies at Mets

Jacob deGrom has been an obstacle for Phillies lineups since his first appearance in major league baseball. These 2018 Phillies have proven a lot thus far, but battling past the deGro-bstacle (mmm) would be a mid-season milestone—just not one you would be smart to bet on, given the numbers involved: deGrom is the only NL pitcher with a lower ERA than Aaron Nola (1.79), he’s got the second most K’s in the league, and he’s 6-1 against the Phillies lifetime. Odubel Herrera has seen the most of him in 27 AB, and he’s only hit .222 off of him.

This one’s been penciled in as an automatic L by many; those who were saying the second game of the doubleheader and yesterday’s Enyel De Los Santos start were “must-win” games, because this one was a “try-not-to-lose.” Vince Velasquez, fresh off the defensive play of the year that put him on the 10-day DL, will stand in deGrom’s way.