New York @ Philadelphia preview

Last Meeting ( Jul 11, 2018 ) Philadelphia 0, NY Mets 3

Wilson Ramos provided the Philadelphia Phillies' ailing offense with a much-needed shot in the arm against the best team in the majors. The Phillies (66-53) aim to ride that momentum into Thursday's doubleheader versus one of the worst in the majors in the visiting New York Mets (51-67), against whom they have dropped five of eight encounters this season with two shutout losses.

Ramos, who was activated from the disabled list prior to Wednesday's contest, highlighted his sixth three-hit performance of the season with a triple, two doubles and three RBIs as Philadelphia remained two games behind National League East-leading Atlanta with a 7-4 triumph over the Boston Red Sox. Fellow in-season trade acquisition Justin Bour had two hits in that contest, but is just 5-for-33 with 12 strikeouts against New York in 2018. While the Phillies mustered just nine runs en route to losing four of their previous five games, the Mets benefited from Brandon Nimmo's first career five-hit performance to record their best scoring output of the season in a 16-5 romp over Baltimore on Wednesday. The energetic 25-year-old is a robust 9-for-12 with four RBIs and seven runs scored in his last three games entering the series versus Philadelphia, which will send right-hander Zach Eflin and left-hander Ranger Suarez to the mound - although manager Gabe Kapler did not announce the starter of the doubleheader.

TV: 4:05 ET, Facebook-Watch

PITCHING MATCHUP: Mets RH Corey Oswalt (1-2, 5.03 ERA) vs. Phillies LH Ranger Suarez (1-0, 7.20)

Oswalt received his second straight no-decision despite allowing three runs over six innings for the second consecutive start. The 24-year-old rookie kept the ball in the park at Miami on Saturday after surrendering a pair of homers in his previous outing against Atlanta. Oswalt took the loss in his first career start versus Philadelphia on July 9 despite retiring the first 12 batters he faced before permitting three runs on one hit while striking out a season-high

Suarez won his major-league debut on July 26 despite allowing four runs on six hits - including two homers - over five innings of a 9-4 victory versus Cincinnati. The 22-year-old was promptly sent back to the minors immediately after that start. Suarez has fared well in the minors this year with a 2.89 ERA recorded in over 106 innings with Double-A Reading and Triple-A Lehigh Valley.

WALK-OFFS

1. Philadelphia 3B Maikel Franco is 6-for-18 in his last five games entering the series versus New York, against which he is just 6-for-25 this season.

2. Mets 3B Todd Frazier has homered twice in his last three contests and is 13-for-34 with nine RBIs during his eight game-hitting streak.

3. The five-game series, which features a makeup contest from May 12, concludes Sunday with the 2018 Little League Classic in Williamsport, Pa.

PREDICTION: Phillies 4, Mets 3