By Matt Rappa, Sports Talk Philly editor
PHILADELPHIA — After 1,571 games, 6,527 plate appearances, 382 home runs, 1,194 RBIs and 12,838 2/3 fielded innings, perennial franchise first baseman Ryan Howard will play in what is expected to be his final game with the Philadelphia Phillies (70-91) in the season finale against the postseason-bound New York Mets (87-74) Sunday afternoon at Citizens Bank Park.
With the Mets clinching the top National League Wild Card spot in their 5-3 victory over the Phillies on Saturday, rookie RHP Gabriel Ynoa will start in place of RHP Noah Syndergaard, who has started in just one game over the last 13 days (strep throat). Syndergaard will instead start in the Wild Card game at Citi Field on Wednesday against either the San Francisco Giants or St. Louis Cardinals.
Starting for the Phillies will be RHP Jerad Eickhoff as he makes his team-high 33rd start of the season and the 41st overall of his career. He would need to throw at least 8 2/3 innings on Sunday to reach the 200-inning plateau for the season.
The Phillies will honor Howard's contributions to the organization with a "special pregame presentation" at 2:30 p.m. It will be televised on Comcast SportsNet. Among Howard's best career accolades includes: 2005 National League Rookie of the Year, Most Valuable Player of the 2006 National League and 2009 NLCS, three-time All-Star and 2008 World Series champion.
Starting Pitching Matchup:
New York Mets (87-74) | Philadelphia Phillies (70-91) | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
RHP | Gabriel Ynoa | RHP | Jerad Eickhoff | ||
(1-0, 7.90 ERA) | (11-14, 3.72 ERA) |
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