NEW YORK -- Nobody knows what would have happened if Jesús Luzardo had started on Friday night at Citi Field, just like nobody knows what would have happened if he had started last Saturday at Truist Park.

The Phillies would’ve liked their chances, though.

Even if Luzardo wasn’t on the 15-day injured list with inflammation in his left shoulder, the Phillies’ offense would have needed to score. And Orion Kerkering would have needed to pitch well. Neither happened in Friday’s 6-3 loss to the Mets. The Phillies and Cubs remain tied for the No. 1 NL Wild Card spot with eight games left in the season. But if the Padres beat Miami on Friday, there would be a three-way tie.

Friday was the Phillies’ second bullpen game without Luzardo, who may or may not be back in the postseason.

Nobody knows at this point.

“Just hearing that he’s feeling better every day,” Phillies interim manager Don Mattingly said before the game. “So I’m feeling a lot better about it as we move forward. … What we thought was going to happen is happening. What that means moving forward, I don't know that because he hasn't played catch yet. He hasn't been able to throw a bullpen yet. How is he going to recover from all of that?”

Tim Mayza served as the opener. He tossed three scoreless innings as the opener last Saturday in Atlanta, but he allowed three runs in the first inning to the Mets. Newly acquired right-hander José Urquidy replaced him with the bases loaded and one out. Urquidy allowed a single to score two runs to make it 3-0, but he didn’t allow another run over 4 2/3 innings.

“Hired gun,” Mattingly said.

Kerkering started the sixth. It was his first appearance since last Saturday, when he allowed a hit, an unearned run and walked three in 1 1/3 innings. It was just his second appearance since Sept. 4.

Kerkering has been battling turf toe recently, although Mattingly and Kerkering have said for a week that he is OK to pitch.

But Mattingly has stayed away from him for one reason or another.

“I think he's ready to go,” Mattingly said. “Even though he hasn't been used, it's just because the game wasn't his spot.”

And probably because Kerkering has been struggling and fallen out of favor. Mattingly used Chase Shugart in the 10th and 11th innings in a loss to the Braves on Sept. 11. It’s a spot that would have been Kerkering’s not too long ago.

On Friday, Kerkering allowed a soft single up the middle to start the sixth. He struck out Brett Baty swinging on a 1-2 sweeper, followed by a hard-hit single to left to Luis Torrens to put runners on first and second.

Francisco Lindor struck out swinging on a 3-2 fastball for the second out. But Kerkering threw Juan Soto a hanging 0-1 sweeper. Soto crushed the pitch over the right-center-field fence for a three-run home run.

Kerkering has allowed a run in seven of his last eight appearances for an 8.64 ERA (eight earned runs in 8 1/3 innings). He has allowed 11 hits, six walks, two home runs and hit two batters in that stretch. He has struck out eight.

But the struggles extend further than that. Kerkering has an 8.83 ERA (18 earned runs in 18 1/3 innings) in 21 appearances since July 22.

It’s a serious concern for the Phillies as the postseason approaches. Kerkering entered the season as a high-leverage, late-inning reliever. And now with Jonathan Bowlan’s future uncertain because of a mild right groin strain, the Phillies’ bridge from starting pitcher to closer Jhoan Duran is even shakier.