New York @ Philadelphia preview

Last Meeting ( Aug 16, 2018 ) NY Mets 6, Philadelphia 9

One day after the offenses put on a show, the pitchers should take center stage when the New York Mets visit the Philadelphia Phillies on Friday night to continue a five-game series between National League East rivals. Hard-throwing Noah Syndergaard goes for New York and All-Star Aaron Nola brings an 8-0 home record to the mound for the Phillies after the teams combined for 43 runs in a doubleheader split Thursday.

Philadelphia gained ground in the NL East, pulling within 1 1/2 games of first-place Atlanta, pounding out 14 hits in a 9-6 victory in the second game Thursday after giving up 24 runs - a Mets franchise record - in the opener. Catcher Wilson Ramos recorded three hits in his second straight contest since returning from injury for the Phillies in the nightcap and boasts an eight-game hitting streak overall - the first six while with Tampa Bay before the trade deadline deal. New York received seven RBIs from Jose Bautista in the first game of the double dip and has scored 78 runs over the last nine games - going 6-3 in the process. The Mets are 42-19 at Citizens Bank Park since 2012, have won 19 of the last 25 series with the Phillies and took six of the first 10 against Philadelphia in 2018.

TV: 6:05 p.m. ET, MLB Network, SNY (New York), NBC 10 (Philadelphia)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Mets RH Noah Syndergaard (8-2, 3.22 ERA) vs. Phillies RH Aaron Nola (13-3, 2.28)

Syndergaard has won his last two starts after dropping his first of August, following a short stint on the disabled list due to illness. The 25-year-old Texan is 4-1 since July 13 with a 3.56 ERA and boasts 24 strikeouts to go along with six walks across 30 1/3 innings during that stretch. Ramos is 5-for-15 versus Syndergaard, who is 4-1 with a 2.06 ERA in seven career games against the Phillies after yielding two runs over four innings in a no-decision on April 4.

Nola has posted eight quality starts in his past nine outings, including the last three in which he allowed three runs over 20 innings combined. The 25-year-old LSU product beat San Diego on Saturday in his last outing with six scoreless innings, giving up four hits and three walks with five strikeouts. Amed Rosario is 3-for-9 with a double against Nola, who is 4-1 with a 3.71 ERA in six career starts versus the Mets - 2-0 with a 1.50 mark in three outings this season.

WALK-OFFS

1. Mets OF Brandon Nimmo, who is 10-for-14 in his last four games, will have an MRI on his left index finger Friday after leaving the first game Thursday.

2. Philadelphia LF Rhys Hoskins belted a three-run homer in the first inning of the second game Thursday and owns three blasts in his past four contests.

3. The Phillies (67-54) surpassed their win total from 2017 on Thursday and are 16-5 in the last 21 home games.

PREDICTION: Phillies 4, Mets 2