The last time the Mets won a series was against the Phillies on June 1st. The Mets will attempt to win another series against the Phillies, and get back on the right track this afternoon as they take on the Phillies in the rubber game.
Max Scherzer labored through the humidity yesterday and kept the Mets in the game all afternoon. When the Phillies erased the Mets 2-0 lead, the Mets were able punch right back and take a 4-2 lead. The Mets showed two things yesterday that they displayed all the time in 2022. First, the ability to take the lead right back after they lost. Second, to score runs by keeping the line moving. Was it a blip in 2023? Or can it become a trend?
Carlos Carrasco takes the mound today for the Mets. Showalter has scrambled the rotation a bit, having Max Scherzer yesterday pitch on regular rest in order to insert Carrasco in-between Scherzer and Verlander. Over nine games and 44 innings, Carrasco has a 6.34 ERA, 6.66 FIP, 1.545 WHIP and a 66 ERA+. His last good start was against the Phillies where he allowed only one run from six hits and walk over six innings of work. Since then he has allowed 12 runs, 11 earned, from 17 hits and eight walks over 12 2/3 innings, including four homers. The Phillies have the following numbers against him:
- Nick Castellanos 12-52, 3 BB, 16 K
- Bryce Harper 4-12, BB, 2 K
- Trea Turner 6-11, 3 2B
- J.T. Realmuto 2-10, 4 K
- Kyle Schwarber 0-8, BB, 3 K
- Brandon Marsh 1-4, 2B, BB, 2 K
- Bryson Stott 1-5, K
- Edmundo Sosa 1-3, HR, K
- Kody Clemens 1-2
- Garrett Stubbs 0-2
The Mets draw an old friend this afternoon as they take on Zack Wheeler. Over 15 starts (88 innings) Wheeler has a 3.48 ERA, 2.67 FIP, 1.114 WHIP and a 122 ERA+. At the start of June Wheeler had a terrible game against the Nationals where he allowed seven runs over 3 2/3 innings. In his three games since he has allowed only two runs, one earned, from 11 hits and four walks over 19 1/3 innings while striking out 19 batters. It is by far his best three game stretch this season. The Mets have the following career numbers against him:
- Brandon Nimmo 9-33, 3 2B, HR, BB, 6 K
- Pete Alonso 9-25, 2 2B, 2 BB, 4 K
- Jeff McNeil 5-26, 2 BB, 6 K
- Francisco Lindor 6-23, 2B, 3B, 5 K
- Starling Marte 6-18, 2B, 3B, BB, 2 K
- Luis Guillorme 3-14, 2B, 2 BB, 2 K
- Tommy Pham 4-8, HR, 4 BB, K
- Daniel Vogelbach 1-9, HR, BB, 3 K
- Mark Canha 2-8
- Omar Narváez 1-5, 2 K
- Brett Baty 0-2
Three Things To Watch For:
- Is Starling Marte coming around? Marte was a huge for the 2022 Mets. You can make the argument that their fall in September had a lot to do with Marte’s injury. On June 8th, Marte went 3-for-5 at the plate. In the 13 games since then, Marte has gone 17-for-56 with two doubles, a homer (which he hit yesterday) and 11 runs scored. His OPS in this stretch is .721, which is 70 points higher than his season OPS of .651. If the Mets were going to go on a little run to save their season, Marte needs to be part of it.
- Who is available in the bullpen today? The Mets needed Robertson to get a five out save yesterday. Normally that would put Robertson in the not-available category for today, but only needed 13 pitches thanks to the defense turning two double plays. Ottavino, who Robertson bailed out, worked hard tossing 26 pitches. Brooks Raley has now pitched on back to back days. The rest of the bullpen is well rested. My gut says we’ll see Leone and Hartwig today who haven’t pitched since Wednesday.
- The defensive giveth and taketh. Friday night’s game was a defensive mess for the Mets. Yesterday Guillorme, Lindor and Alonso turned three double plays, bailing out pitchers multiple times. One double play quickly killed a rally in the bottom of the 8th. Another sealed the Mets win.
Let’s Go Mets!
