Game Preview: Mets @ Phillies

Yesterday was the 2020 Mets season encapsulated in the day. The Mets, coming off two straight wins with Jacob deGrom on the mound finally looked like they could build momentum this weekend in Philly. Then, hours before game time, deGrom was scratched due to neck issues.

Infinite Sadness.

Then the game starts and Walker Lockett is holding his own. Eventually the Mets take the lead. Then the Walker allows a three run homer and the Mets are behind. But these Mets are fighters and they tie it in the ninth – only to lose it in the bottom of the ninth. Mets lose. Momentum gone again.

So the Mets will try to make the best of the next two days, starting with Steven Matz. Matz has made 4 starts, totaling 18.2 innings where he has allowed 25 hits and 17 runs. Eight of those hits are homers. That’s also the league lead in homers allowed. I’m sure that won’t be on his mind at all while playing a homer happy ballpark in Philly tonight. He pitched 6 games and made 5 starts against the Phillies last year allowing 33 hits and 21 runs, 18 earned, over 21.2 innings (7.48 ERA). The Phillies have the following numbers against him:

Jean Segura 7-13, 3 2B, 3B, HR, 2 K
Didi Gregorius 6-14, 2B, 3B, BB, K
Scott Kingery 6-17, 2 HR, 4 K
Bryce Harper 9-27, 4 2B, HR, 3 BB, 5 K
Rhys Hoskins 3-19, 3 HR, 5 BB, 2 K
JT Realmuto 6-22, 2 2B, 2 BB, 4 K
Andrew McCutchen 2-8, BB, 4 K
Jay Bruce 0-5, 2 BB

The Mets bats draw Aaron Nola today, who is off to a good start in 2020. Over his first three starts, he has allowed 6 runs from 10 hits in 19.1 innings posting a 2.79 ERA, 2.41 FIP, 0.621 WHIP and 167 ERA+. Last year he led the league in starts (34) and batters faced (852) pitching 202.1 innings with a 3.87 ERA, 4.03 FIP, 1.265 WHIP and 114 ERA+. He made 4 starts against the Mets holding the Mets to 8 runs, 7 earned over 24.0 innings, a 2.63 ERA. The Mets have the following numbers against Aaron: