PHILADELPHIA -- Not only are the Mets’ rotation problems lingering well into the final month of the season, they’re routinely causing them to lose games in the height of a playoff race.

While New York’s rookie trio of Nolan McLean , Jonah Tong and Brandon Sproat has pitched admirably in recent weeks, they represent just half the team’s six-man rotation. The other half -- Sean Manaea , Clay Holmes and David Peterson -- has struggled.

Tuesday, Manaea allowed four runs over the first two innings at Citizens Bank Park, which was more than the Phillies needed in a 9-3 victory . The loss temporarily shaved the Mets’ National League Wild Card edge to 2 1/2 games with 17 to play, though it’s effectively 3 1/2 games since they hold a head-to-head tiebreaker over their next-closest

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