By Matt Rappa, Sports Talk Philly editor 
FLUSHING, N.Y. — Veteran RHP Jeremy Hellickson will take the mound Saturday afternoon as the Philadelphia Phillies (26-52) will look to avoid their 19th series loss of the season while facing RHP Zack Wheeler and the New York Mets (37-42) at Citi Field.
The Phillies fell 2-1 to the Mets in Friday's series opener as opposing starter RHP Jacob deGrom struck out 12 batters through seven strong innings. Second baseman Ty Kelly — who went 0-1 with a strikeout in just one plate appearance with the Mets this season — delivered the Phillies' lone run with a fifth inning RBI single to left. Rookie catcher Andrew Knapp picked up his first career triple and stolen base, while rookie outfielder Cameron Perkins hit his first career double.
In the defeat, Phillies outfielder Nick Williams made his Major League debut, going 1-3 with a strikeout. Williams replaces 2B/OF Howie Kendrick (strained left hamstring) on the active roster.
Starting Pitching Matchup:
| Philadelphia Phillies (26-52) | New York Mets (37-42) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RHP | Jeremy Hellickson | RHP | Zack Wheeler | ||
| (5-5, 4.40 ERA) | (3-5, 5.29 ERA) | ||||
Hellickson Career vs. NYM: 2-4, 8.21 ERA, 7 G, 7 GS, 34 IP, 49 H, 31 R, 31 ER, 11 HR, 12 BB, 27 SO, 1.794 WHIP
Hellickson, 30, has allowed one run in each of his last two starts (13 combined innings), both of which were no-decisions on June 20, home against the St. Louis Cardinals, and June 25, away against the Arizona Diamondbacks.
In three career starts at Citi Field, the right-hander is 1-2 with a 8.36 ERA and 1.714 WHIP, allowing 13 runs, three home runs, 17 hits and seven walks in 14 innings.
Wheeler Career vs. PHI: 3-1, 3.07 ERA, 7 G, 7 GS, 41 IP, 34 H, 14 R, 14 ER, 5 HR, 11 BB, 41 SO, 1.098 WHIP
Wheeler, 27, returns to action for the Mets, activated from the disabled list after missing just one start with right biceps tendinitis. The Smyrna, Georgia native has surrendered a combined 15 runs in just 3 2/3 innings over his last two starts on 14 hits, three walks, five strikeouts and five home runs.
Wheeler has recorded 41 strikeouts in 41 innings spanning seven career starts against the Phillies.
Starting Lineups:
| Philadelphia Phillies (26-52) | New York Mets (37-42) | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Position | Player | Bats | Position | Player | Bats | ||
| 1 | CF | Odubel Herrera | L | 1 | CF | Curtis Granderson | L |
| 2 | SS | Freddy Galvis | S | 2 | 2B | Asdrubal Cabrera | S |
| 3 | RF | Aaron Altherr | R | 3 | LF | Yoenis Cespedes | R |
| 4 | 1B | Tommy Joseph | R | 4 | RF | Jay Bruce | L |
| 5 | LF | Nick Williams | L | 5 | 1B | Lucas Duda | L |
| 6 | 3B | Maikel Franco | R | 6 | 3B | T.J. Rivera | R |
| 7 | 2B | Ty Kelly | S | 7 | SS | Jose Reyes | S |
| 8 | C | Cameron Rupp | R | 8 | C | Travis d'Arnaud | R |
| 9 | P | Jeremy Hellickson | R | 9 | P | Zack Wheeler | L |
Broadcast Information:
- First pitch: 4:10 p.m.
- TV: CSN
- Radio: SportsRadio 94 WIP
Game Notes:
- The Phillies' bullpen has a 13-inning scoreless streak and has allowed just one run in 17 2/3 innings since June 25 (0.51 ERA).
- Phillies starter have produced a quality start in nine of their last 12 games, posting a 3.57 ERA since June 17.
- The Mets have won 15 of their last 18 series against the Phillies. Since the start of the 2015 season, the Phillies have lost 31 of 45 meetings against the Mets, outhomered 82-36.
NL East Standings (entering July 1, 2017):
| W | L | GB | L10 | Streak | Home | Road | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Washington Nationals | 47 | 33 | — | 5-5 | L2 | 22-17 | 25-16 |
| Atlanta Braves | 38 | 41 | 8.5 | 6-4 | W1 | 20-20 | 18-21 |
| New York Mets | 37 | 42 | 9.5 | 6-4 | W3 | 18-23 | 19-19 |
| Miami Marlins | 35 | 43 | 11.0 | 4-6 | L3 | 21-21 | 14-22 |
| Philadelphia Phillies | 26 | 52 | 20.0 | 4-6 | L1 | 14-20 | 12-32 |
What's Next:
- Sunday, July 2, 2017: at New York Mets, 1:10 p.m.
- Citi Field
- RHP Nick Pivetta (1-4, 5.40 ERA) vs. RHP Rafael Montero (1-4, 5.63 ERA)
- TV: CSN; Radio: SportsRadio 94 WIP
