PHILADELPHIA -- The Phillies should be buyers before the July 30 Trade Deadline. They are too close to the Mets in the National League East to just stand pat.

• Box score

They know this. It is why they scouted Cole Hamels’ showcase on Friday afternoon in Texas. Hamels showed enough to interest teams, although he is about a month away from helping whichever team signs him. It could be the Phillies, who need pitching help, but they need more than Hamels to make the postseason.

The Phillies split Friday’s seven-inning doubleheader against the Marlins at Citizens Bank Park. They won Game 1, 5-2, but lost Game 2, 7-0.

They are 45-45, but just three games behind the Mets in the National League East.

Phillies left-hander Matt Moore allowed two runs in 4 1/3 innings in Game 1, during which Travis Jankowski set a career high with four RBIs. Moore struck out nine and walked none. He has a 3.06 ERA in four starts since rejoining the rotation at the end of June, striking out 16 and walking six in 17 2/3 innings.

Moore, however, has not pitched more than five innings in his recent four-start stretch. Phillies manager Joe Girardi said he can live with it, even though it adds to the workload of an already stressed bullpen. 

“Matty has pitched really good,” Girardi said. “He’s given us a chance to win every game that he’s pitched for us so far. We’re really pleased with what he’s doing.”

Moore is pleased, too. He had a 9.82 ERA in his first three starts before being bumped to the bullpen and then suffering a back injury.

“I mean, I'd say my last four starts have been much different than my [first] three,” Moore said. “I am the same person. I think I'm able to get to a different level with myself more often right now, being able to execute pitches at a higher rate than I was earlier on. And just trusting the target, trusting myself, trusting the mechanics and getting comfortable out there. I think that helped me in my rehab starts, and I am just trying to carry that over here.”

Phillies right-hander Zach Eflin allowed six runs (five earned) in 3 2/3 innings in Game 2. He entered the night with a solid 3.88 ERA.

It jumped to 4.17.

“It’s not me, it’s not what I do,” Eflin said. “It doesn’t sit well with me.”

Eflin is on pace to throw 183 innings this season. He threw a career-high 163 1/3 innings in 2019. If he finishes strong, he could push toward 200. It would mean good things for the Phillies if he did, because if Eflin is pitching deep, it means he is pitching well. 

“That’s the goal going into the season,” he said. “I knew I wanted to throw 200 innings or 200-plus. I’m going to have to stop going 3 2/3 and [start] going six every time and start creeping up seven, eight. But I feel healthy moving forward. The arm feels great. I’ll continue to throw some innings and get back to my delivery and make competitive pitches.”

In the meantime, the Phillies will continue to look for starting pitching and bullpen help. They must.