Game Preview: Mets @ Phillies

The Mets look to have a big weekend in Philadelphia after a rough week in Atlanta. Last night the Mets lost their first series of the year to a NL East opponent. On the positive side, in the last two weeks the Mets still went 5-4 against the Braves which is what they needed to do to keep their division lead.

The Mets and Phillies just matched up last weekend with the Mets taking the series winning both on Saturday and Sunday. The Phillies enter this weekend 13 games above .500, 1 game up for the the second wild card and 10 games back for the division. The Mets can cause some wild card madness with another dominating weekend against the Phillies.

Chris Bassitt kicks the weekend off for the Mets. Over 22 games and 135 innings this year, Bassitt has a 3.27 ERA, 3.56 FIP, 1.126 WHIP and a 120 ERA+. In the month of August he has made three starts and allowed one unearned run – that’s it. Over those three starts and 20 innings, he has scattered 18 hits and four walks while striking out 17. In three starts against the Phillies this year he has allowed two runs over 16 2/3 innings from 11 hits and six walks while striking out 16 batters. The Phillies have the following career numbers against him:

Nick Castellanos 8-22, 3 2B, HR, BB, 2 K
Alec Bohm 2-9
Rhys Hoskins 2-7, 2B, BB, 2 K
Jean Segura 2-6, HR< BB
Brandon Marsh 1-4, 2B, BB, 2 K
J.T. Realmuto 0-4, 2 K

The Mets bats will get another look at Aaron Nola this evening. Over 23 starts and 152 2/3 innings, Nola has a 3.07 ERA, 2.77 FIP, 0.930 WHIP and a 133 ERA+. Nola’s success this season has come from his control and limiting his walks – he’s actually leading the league in BB/9 at 1.2. His last start was a a fantastic one against the Mets – a pitching duel that the Mets won 1-0. Nola pitched eight innings allowing one run from four hits and a walk while striking out eight. Overall in his last three starts he has allowed three earned runs over 20 innings, 1.35 ERA. The Mets have the following career numbers against him: