The Mets opened the series against the Phillies with thunder on Thursday night! The Mets scored 10 runs for a third consecutive game from 11 hits including four home runs. The Phillies also showed why they are one of the best teams in baseball, taking what should have been a rout and making it close late. This is going to be a hard fought series all weekend as the Mets need to win every game to keep pace in the wild card race and the Phillies need to win one more game to clinch a spot in the playoffs.
David Peterson has pitched 110 1/3 innings over 19 starts with a 2.85 ERA, 3.86 FIP, 1.305 WHIP and a 139 ERA+. Peterson is only one inning pitched away from a new career high. He’s coming off of a phenomenal start against the Phillies where he held them to one run over 7 2/3 innings, scattering four hits. Since the start of August, Peterson has been on a tear with a 2.22 ERA, 2.96 FIP over 56 2/3 innings. His challenge tonight will be dealing with the Phillies adjustments who saw Peterson last weekend. The Phillies have the following career numbers against him:
- Alec Bohm 5-19, 2 2B, 2 HR, BB, 6 K
- Nick Castellanos 3-8, 3 K
- Bryce Harper 7-17, 2B, HR, 3 BB, 4 K
- Brandon Marsh 1-1, HR
- J.T. Realmuto 3-15, 2B, 3 BB, 4 K
- Johan Rojas 0-4, 2 K
- Kyle Schwarber 1-13, 2B, 2 BB, 8 K
- Edmundo Sosa 0-1
- Bryson Stott 0-2, K
- Trea Turner 3-14, 2 2B, 2 BB, 5 K
- Weston Wilson 1-3, 2B, K
Cristopher Sánchez has pitched 172 innings this season with 3.24 ERA, 2.86 FIP, 1.233 WHIP and a 126 ERA+. If this feels like déjà vu, it’s because Sánchez beat Peterson in a pitching duel last weekend. Sánchez allowed one run against the Mets over seven innings. In September he has allowed three runs over 20 innings. This will be his third start against the Mets this season, in his first start the Mets were able score three runs over 5 2/3 innings. The Mets have the following numbers against Sánchez:
- Luisangel Acuña 0-2
- Pete Alonso 4-15, 2B, HR, 5 K
- Eddy Alvarez 0-1
- Francisco Alvarez 0-4, 2 K
- Harrison Bader 2-5, BB, K
- José Iglesias 1-3
- Francisco Lindor 3-9, 2 BB
- Starling Marte 3-9, 2B, HR, K
- J.D. Martinez 2-6, 2 2B, BB, 2 K
- Brandon Nimmo 4-11, BB, 2 K
- Tyrone Taylor 1-5, HR, K
- Luis Torrens 0-2, BB
- Mark Vientos 0-6, 5 K
- Jesse Winker 0-6, 2 K
Three Things To Watch For:
- Brandon Nimmo. On Wednesday Nimmo went 1-for-3 with a home run and two runs scored. During his post game interview he asked Mets fans to pack the stadium. Fans responded with packing the stadium on Thursday night. Nimmo responded with a 2-for-5 night at the plate with a double, another home run and two runs scored. He’s had six RBI’s between both games. Nimmo was a huge part of the Mets June run and was playing at the next level until the All-Star break. Could he be the x-factor this weekend against the Phillies?
- Francisco Alvarez. Alvarez homered on August 19th and then didn’t homer again until September 11th. Since that game on the 11th, Alvarez has gone 6-for-24 at the plate, with four of his six hits being home runs. He has 10 RBI’s over that stretch. For context he has only 10 home runs and 41 RBI’s for the season.
- Scoreboard Watching. There are only nine games left in the season! The Padres have a two game lead for the first wild card spot, the Mets and Diamondbacks are tied for the second spot (with the Mets having the tie breaker). The Braves are two games out, looking in. The ageless Charlie Morton takes on the Marlins rookie Valente Bellozo (123 ERA+). Zac Gallen looks to lead the Diamondbacks against Colin Rea. The Padres start a weekend series against the lowly White Sox, who would tie the Mets record for losses in a season if the Padres sweep them.
Let’s Go Mets!
