213 Miles From Shea

For the last time in 2026, the New York Mets will play baseball.

The Mets will look to end the season on a high note. Since the Trade Deadline the Mets have had a winning record thanks to superstars getting healthy and prospects stepping up. It has been a nice glimpse of what could be next year, even if it does make us think of what could have been this year.

Today’s game time was moved up due to weather in the area. If you’re reading this in the northeast, you already know the weather we’ve been dealing with and MLB is hoping that the Mets and Nationals can still get this game in if it starts a little earlier in the afternoon.

Sean Manaea has pitched in 32 games for the Mets this season making 18 starts totaling 144 2/3 innings with a 4.67 ERA, 4.44 FIP, 1.300 WHIP and an 87 ERA+. In spring training Manaea had a real velocity concern that led to him starting the season in the bullpen. Eventually his velocity rebounded a bit and he became a more reliable starter in the rotation. He’s coming off two solid starts where he allowed only four earned runs over 11 1/3 innings from seven hits and two walks while striking out 15 batters. He has not had fun facing the Nationals this season allowing 10 runs from 13 hits over nine innings. The Nationals have the following career stats against him:

• CJ Abrams 5-17, 2B, 4 K
• Andres Chaparro 2-7, 2 BB, 3 K
• Dylan Crews 0-10, 3 K
• Harry Ford 0-2, BB, K
• Brady House 4-7, 2B, 2 HR, BB, K
• Daylen Lile 1-8, 3 K
• Nasim Nuñez 3-6, HR, 2 BB
• Keibert Ruiz 4-11
• Jose Tena 1-3, K
• James Wood 2-13, 2B, 4 K
• Jacob Young 4-11, 2B, BB, 5 K

DJ Herz continues his long journey back from Tommy John this afternoon. Herz had surgery in April 2025, had a setback in June 2026 and finally returned to the majors last week. In that game he pitched four innings, allowed four runs from five hits and struck out two batters. In 2024 Herz made 19 starts for the Nationals pitching 88 2/3 innings with a 4.16 ERA, 3.71 FIP, 1.263 WHIP and a 98 ERA+. The Mets have the following career stats against him:

• Francisco Alvarez 2-4, 2 K
• Francisco Lindor 3-6, 2B, HR
• Cristian Pache 0-1, BB
• Luis Torrens 1-2, 2B, K
• Mark Vientos 2-7, 2 K

Three Things To Watch For:

1. Francisco Lindor. This is the last day for Francisco Lindor to hit his 300th career home run. Lindor has been sitting at 299 since hitting two home runs, including a grand slam, on September 12th in Yankee Stadium. Here’s hoping he gets it today and it’s not sitting over him all off-season.
2. The last day with this group of Mets. We saw this a bit yesterday, but the Mets have a lot of players on the team they need to figure out. How does Brett Baty, Mark Vientos and Ronny Mauricio all fit on this team? What is the future for Marcus Semien and the currently injured Jorge Polanco? Who plays first next season? Which recently called-up minor league pitcher earned a spot in the bullpen next season. Last off-season the Mets really blew everything up, trading Nimmo to make room for Carson Benge, but then displacing Baty/Vientos/Mauricio. If there is a normal off season, the Mets will be busy.
3. What happens next? There’s a real chance that players could be locked out next season. Owners are pushing for a salary cap, trying to turn fans against the players. I’m hopeful that a lockout can be avoided, there’s too much to lose with missing games. Still, there’s a nonzero chance there’s no baseball next season. That gives today’s meaningless game a little more heft.

Let’s Go Mets!

With the loss last night, the Mets have locked themselves into a last place NL East finish. Disappointing for sure, but also an opportunity to have quite the glow-up next season. Despite playing better the last two months, they just had too many losses and could never really get themselves out of the cellar.

There are still things to celebrate! Carson Benge reached the 20-20 club in Friday night’s loss. A.J. Ewing had a tremendous rookie season. The Mets have a ton of talent in the rotation and we’ll see one of those arms today with Jonah Tong!

Jonah Tong has pitched in six starts this season totaling 25 2/3 innings with a 4.21 ERA, 3.80 FIP, 1.325 WHIP and a 98 ERA+. He’s coming off of a rough start against the Phillies where he allowed four runs on four hits and four walks over 4 2/3 innings, the third time in four outings he has allowed four earned runs. Hopefully Tong can end his 2026 campaign with a solid start taking momentum into the winter. This will be his first time facing the Nationals in a Major League game and no one on the Nationals roster has seen him as members of other organizations.

The Mets bats will get a look at Connelly Early who the Nationals acquired in the Curtis Mead trade with the Red Sox earlier this season and is making his Nationals debut today. He was injured with the Nationals acquired him and has been on the injured list since then. Before his injury, Early made 17 starts with the Red Sox totaling 91 2/3 innings with a 3.44 ERA, 4.60 FIP, 1.255 WHIP and a 118 ERA+. The only member of the Mets to face Early before is Christopher Morel (1-for-2, 2B).

Three Things To Watch For:

1. Bo Bichette. Last night Bo Bichette went 2-for-4 with his 25th double and 18th home run of the season, picking up two RBI’s. He was hitting behind Juan Soto who went 2-for-4 with a walk and scored twice. This was the hope for the Mets lineup last spring, Juan Soto getting on base and Bichette driving him home. It’s been an up and down season for Bichette but he’s ending on a better note than it started, with an OPS above .700.
2. Carson Benge. Benge continued his amazing rookie campaign on Friday night going 2-for-2 with two walks, hitting his 20th home run of the season. There are a lot of rookies making a case for NL Rookie of the year, including Nolan McLean. Benge has done pretty much everything he can to prove that he should be in that conversation with a .768 OPS, 115 WRC+ and 4.0 fWAR.
3. Francisco Lindor. Lindor has two more chances to hit his 300th career home runs. Lindor hit two home runs, including a grand slam against the Yankees on September 12th. It’s been almost two weeks, hopefully he can reach this milestone before the end of the season.

Let’s Go Mets!

The Mets head to DC for the final series of the 2026 season. It’s been a disappointing season for the Mets, who started the year with World Series aspirations. Things fell apart fairly quickly, but since the trade deadline the Mets have been playing better ball and creating hope for next season. A few players have some major milestones they can still reach over the next few days.

The big mystery is the weather. There’s a nor’easter that will mostly be impacting Jersey to Boston, but DC is not completely out of the woods. Hopefully the Mets will be able to play these last three games.

Justin Hagenman has pitched in two games this season totaling four innings allowing two runs on three hits while striking out two. Last season he pitched in nine games totaling 23 2/3 innings with a 4.56 ERA, 3.77 FIP, 1.099 WHIP and a 90 ERA+. Overall in the minors this season he has pitched 19 1/3 innings with a 3.26 ERA. He’s been stretching it out a bit in his last two starts, going four innings in each start allowing only two runs on four hits over eight innings. This will be his first time facing the Nationals and anyone on the Nationals roster in a Major League game.

Andrew Alvarez has pitched in 24 games making 16 starts for the Nationals pitching 108 innings with a 3.17 ERA, 3.13 FIP, 1.259 WHIP and a 136 ERA+. In his last two starts he has not allowed any runs over 13 innings while striking out 16 batters. In two starts against the Mets this season he allowed four runs over nine innings. The Mets have the following career stats against Alvarez:

• Francisco Alvarez 1-3, 2B, BB, K
• Brett Baty 0-1, BB
• Carson Benge 0-3
• Bo Bichette 1-4, K
• A.J. Ewing 0-4, 2 K
• Francisco Lindor 2-4, HR, BB
• Nick Morabito 0-1, K
• Christopher Morel 1-2, K
• Marcus Semien 0-4
• Juan Soto 2-4, HR, K
• Luis Torrens 1-3
• Mark Vientos 0-4, K

Three Things To Watch For:

1. Juan Soto in Washington. It’s been a few seasons now since the Nationals traded Juan Soto to the Padres. That trade brought over key parts of the Nationals lineup C.J. Abrams and James Wood to Washington and set Soto off on a journey that eventually led to the Mets signing him. Especially after the reception that Mets fans gave Pete Alonso, I’m just curious to hear the reaction to Juan Soto even if it has been four seasons.
2. Homeruns not doubles. The Mets hit two doubles Thursday in Texas. I’ve been looking at box scores most of the season and thought they’ve been hitting a lot of doubles this season and I was so wrong. Just so wrong. The Mets have 205 doubles in 2026, which is good for 29th in the league, five ahead of the Mariners and 80 behind the league leading Kansas City Royals. This is interesting because the Mets are ninth in the league in home runs, despite getting off to a miserable start hitting home runs this season.
3. Milestones. It’s the final three games of the season! Francisco Lindor has been sitting at 299 home runs since September 12th. Carson Benge is only one home run away from a 20-20 season. Juan Soto is three home runs and monster series away from a 30 home run season.

Let’s Go Mets!

The Mets look to complete the sweep of the Rangers this afternoon! The Mets took the lead first Wednesday night thanks to a Juan Soto home run. The Rangers eventually tied it before Marcus Semien put the Mets ahead again with a solo shot of his own. Then Brett Baty dropped the hammer with a grand slam.

The Rangers are in a race for the AL West title. Both they and the Astros lost yesterday and both teams are now two games below. 500 leaving the door still ever so open for the Seattle Mariners who are four games back. Meanwhile the Mets are still 1.5 games back behind the Nationals, trying to get out of the cellar by the end of the season.

Zac Thornton ends a terrific rookie year today. Over 14 games this season Thornton pitched 79 1/3 innings with a 3.40 ERA, 4.50 FIP, 1.147 WHIP and a 120 ERA+. In his last two starts he has allowed only four runs from 10 hits over 13 innings. The main blemish on his game has been home runs. He’s allowed home runs in eight of his last ten starts and has allowed a total of six home runs in September alone. This will be his first time facing the Rangers and no one on the Rangers has faced Thornton before in a Major League game.

The Mets drafted Kumar Rocker in 2021 and did not reach a deal due to his medicals. He was drafted by the Rangers the following year, made his debut in 2024 and is finish a full major league season. Over 29 games, 26 starts, he has pitched 143 innings with a 4.47 ERA, 4.36 FIP, 1.420 WHIP and an 86 ERA+. He’s coming off back-to-back solid if not short starts where he has allowed two runs from five hits over 8 1/3 innings. The only hitter on the Mets who has faced Rocker before is Christopher Morel (1-for-2).

Three Things To Watch For:

1. Juan Soto. It’s nice having Soto on the Mets. Soto went 1-for-2 Wednesday hitting his 27th home run of the season and also picking up three walks. It was his second home run in five games and puts him in a position to possibly reach 30 home runs before the end of the season. Getting on base four times Wednesday night raised his OBP to .394, just barely behind last year’s league leading .396.
2. Keep them guessing. Wyatt Langford and Corey Seager each struck out three times on Tuesday night. They each struck out two times Wednesday night. Together, they have gone 0-for-15 with ten strikeouts and a sacrifice fly.
3. Milestones. Nothing has really changed in the last week. Carson Benge is still only one home run away from a 20-20 season. Francisco Lindor is still sitting at 299 career home runs.

Let’s Go Mets!

The Mets took the first game of the series on Tuesday night. Meanwhile, the Astro who have only won three of their last ten, won last night too, and now there’s a tie for AL West crown. Both the Rangers and Astros are below .500. Standing in the Rangers way is the Mets and rookie of the year contender, Nolan McLean.

Nolan McLean has had a wonderful 2026. In 30 starts he has pitched 172 2/3 innings with a 3.18 ERA, 3.65 FIP, 1.193 WHIP and a 129 ERA+. He had a good bounce back start his last time out holding the Phillies to one run over six innings. McLean actually faced the Rangers last September and he shut them out over six innings while striking out seven. The Rangers have the following career stats against him:

• Cody Freeman 1-2, 2B
• Josh Jung 0-3, K
• Wyatt Langford 0-3, 2 K
• Alejandro Osuna 1-2, K

Cody Bradford has pitched in eight games making seven starts for the Rangers this season totaling 38 2/3 innings. He has a 4.19 ERA, 4.26 FIP, 1.500 WHIP and a 93 ERA+. Bradford is coming off of a good relief outing where he came in and pitched 4 1/3 scoreless innings following and opener against the Red Sox. In his two starts before that he allowed eight runs over eight innings from 11 hits (including three home runs). Only a few Mets have seen him in a major league game:

• Bo Bichette 1-1, 2B
• Christopher Morel 1-2
• Juan Soto 0-4, BB, K

Three Things To Watch For:

1. Seizing Opportunities. The Mets scored six runs on Tuesday with Francisco Alvarez and Carson Benge doing some of the heavy work hitting four doubles and recording three RBI’s between them. The Mets still combined to go 3-for-16 with runners in scoring position and left 10 batters on.
2. Free Swinging Rangers. The Mets got the Rangers to strike out 15 times Tuesday night, generating 11 strikeouts from the first four batters in the lineup. The Rangers hitters do have the 10th most strikeouts in the league, but it feels unusual to have that many strikeouts clustered at the top.
3. Milestones. Nolan McLean has struck out 10 batters in a start twice this season. If he sets a season high with 11 strikeouts in tonight’s game, he will end the season with 200 strikeouts. We are still waiting on the other milestones. Francisco Lindor is sitting at 299 home runs. Carson Benge is one home run away from a 20-20 rookie season.

Let’s Go Mets!

The Mets leave a soggy New York for the last week of the baseball season. First up, a series in Arlington, Texas. The American League in 2026 is weird. When the Mets played the Astros a few weeks ago, the Astros were in first place despite hovering around .500. Now the Mets play the Rangers who are in first place in their division, but have a .500 record. The Astros are one game back with an elimination number of 6. The Mariners are five games back with an elimination number of 2. The Mets can play spoiler this week!

Sean Manaea has pitched in 31 games making 17 starts totaling 138 2/3 innings with a 4.74 ERA, 4.54 FIP, 1.320 WHIP and an 87 ERA+. Manaea had a rough stretch from mid-August to early September, putting up a 7.22 ERA, 5.71 FIP over 28 2/3 innings. He bounced back in his last start allowing only two runs over 5 1/3 innings while striking out six. The Rangers have the following career stats against him:

• Jake Burger 3-8, 2B, 2 HR, K
• Elias Diaz 2-13, HR, K
• Ezequiel Duran 0-2, K
• Danny Jansen 1-1, 2B, BB
• Wyatt Langford 0-1
• Nicky Lopez 2-7, K
• Brandon Nimmo 2-7, 2B, BB, 3 K
• Corey Seager 3-9, HR, 2 K

The Mets bats will face an old foe in MacKenzie Gore. Gore was traded by the Padres to the Nationals in 2022 for Juan Soto and played four seasons with the Nationals, including an All-Star nomination in 2025. He was traded to the Rangers before the start of this season. He’s already made 32 starts totaling 165 2/3 innings with a 4.67 ERA, 3.89 FIP, 1.352 WHIP and an 83 ERA+. His last three starts have been rough, allowing 12 runs over 11 innings from 15 hits and nine walks. The Mets have the following career stats against Gore:

• Francisco Alvarez 0-4, 2 BB, 2 K
• Brett Baty 1-3, BB, 2 K
• Bo Bichette 0-5
• Francisco Lindor 5-20, HR, 2 BB, 2 K
• Ronny Mauricio 0-2, K
• Christopher Morel 1-3
• Cristian Pache 1-10, 2B, 4 K
• Marcus Semien 1-3
• Juan Soto 3-15, HR, 7 K
• Luis Torrens 1-6, 2B, 3 K
• Mark Vientos 3-9, 2B, HR, 2 BB, 2 K

Three Things To Watch For:

1. Reunions. The Mets and Rangers swapped Brandon Nimmo and Marcus Semien in an old-school, one-for-one trade before the start of the 2026 season. Nimmo has slashed .260/.325/.407 with 14 home runs and a 1.4 bWAR. Overall a slight drop from his 2025 numbers where slashed .262/.324/.436 hitting 25 home runs and a 2.8 bWAR. His OPS+ has been mostly comparable going from 114 to 112. Marcus Semien had a much larger drop off, going from a 93 OPS+ to 75 and a 3.2 bWAR down to a 0.3 bWAR. But trading Brandon Nimmo gave the Mets the space to call up Carson Benge and eventually A.J. Ewing. Nimmo and Semien were both beloved players in their respective franchises, and hopefully Semien gets warm welcome back tonight.
2. Francisco Alvarez. Alvarez has been quietly putting together a solid season. He’s gone 4-for-8 in his last two games. He has 16 home runs, the second most in his career. For a chunk of the season he wasn’t showing his power as often and he’s ending this season with a .399 SLG, the lowest in his career and a 98 OPS+, the second lowest. There’s generally an OPS+ penalty at the catcher position, but Alvarez has a lot to be proud of this season.
3. Milestones. We are in the final stretch! Francisco Lindor is still sitting at 299 home runs, not hitting one since September 12th. Carson Benge is still one home run away from a 20-20 season.

Let’s Go Mets!

The Mets will try to “put it in the books” for the last time at home this season. Before today’s game the Mets are honoring Howie Rose’s legendary career. The long time voice of the Mets, Howie Rose has been the soundtrack for many of us over the years, connecting generations of Mets fans. Hopefully the Mets can close the season at home the right way, in his honor.

Jonah Tong has pitched in five games this season totaling 21 innings, surpassing his inning total for last season. He has a 3.43 ERA, 3.86 FIP, 1.190 WHIP and a 121 ERA+. Tong is coming off of his best start of the season where he held the Orioles bats to one unearned run over six innings while striking out six batters. He has 13 strikeouts in his last 11 innings pitched. The only player on the Phillies who has faced Tong before is Luis Arráez (1-for-1).

The Mets have a tall order this afternoon in Cristopher Sánchez. Sánchez is having a superb season, making 31 starts totaling 193 2/3 innings with a 2.93 ERA, 2.79 FIP, 1.224 WHIP and a 156 ERA+. He is currently leading the league with 7.6 bWAR and if that holds it will be his second consecutive season leading the league in bWAR (8.1 last season). That being said, he’s had a really rough last couple of games where he has allowed 11 runs over 12 1/3 innings. Sánchez has a 6.87 ERA in the month of September and has allowed at least three runs in four of his last five starts. In his one start against the Mets this season, he held the Mets to one run over six innings. The Mets have the following career stats against him:

• Francisco Alvarez 1-11, 4 K
• Brett Baty 0-4, 3 K
• Carson Benge 0-3, 2 K
• Bo Bichette 2-12, 3 K
• Francisco Lindor 6-20, 2 BB, K
• Ronny Mauricio 1-4, HR, 3 K
• Christopher Morel 0-6, BB, 3 K
• Marcus Semien 1-5, BB
• Juan Soto 6-17, 2B, BB, 4 K
• Luis Torrens 1-10, 2B, BB, 3 K
• Mark Vientos 6-17, 4 2B, 2 HR, 4 BB, 8 K

Three Things To Watch For:

1. Carson Benge 300. Benge went 3-for-4 on Saturday hitting his 19th home run of the season and breaking Pete Alonso’s record for most hits by a Mets rookie. He’s now only one home run away from a 20-20 season!
2. 300. Francisco Lindor has one more chance at home to get his 300th career home run. Lindor hit two home runs Saturday of last weekend (9/12) and has been sitting at 299 since then.
3. Last game at home. It’s been a trying year for the Mets. Sky high expectations to start that fell apart with a disastrous losing streak in mid-April. Lackluster play in May and June, injuries to star players, the Mets were basically out of it by the end of June. After trading away stars in July the team was rejuvenated and has played well for the last two months. This last week at home has been trying, with fans cheering players on other teams to levels noticeable to players on the Mets. With a potential lockout looming next season, we aren’t sure the next time the Mets will play at home. Let’s just make it a good day today.

Let’s Go Mets!

The New York Mets will retire Carlos Beltrán’s number today in a ceremony before the game. The Hall of Famer was inducted in July. Over 20 seasons he racked up 70 bWAR with 435 home runs playing some great centerfield. Beltrán signed a seven year contract with the Mets after the 2004 season and was a leader on the 2006 Mets blasting 41 home runs. He’s an icon of his era, and his number now join his teammate, David Wright.

There’s also baseball to play today! The Mets finally snapped their five game lousing streak Friday night. Heading into play today all three NL Wild Card Teams have the same record. The Diamondbacks, the only other team that can enter the playoff picture, are five games out. Sure would be great for the Mets to make Phillies sweat out the last 10 days or so of the season by beating them this weekend.

Christian Scott has made 22 starts this season totaling 105 1/3 innings with a 3.76 ERA, 3.73 FIP, 1.263 WHIP and a 108 ERA+. He’s coming off of a solid start against the Yankees where he held them to only two runs over six innings in the Bronx. In his two September starts he allowed only four runs from seven hits over 10 2/3 innings. Scott has done well so far against the Phillies this season where he allowed only two runs over 10 innings while striking out 13 batters. The Phillies have the following career stats against him:

• Alec Bohm 0-2
• Justin Crawford 0-4, K
• Bryan De La Cruz 2-6, K
• Bryce Harper 2-4, 2B, HR, 2 K
• Rafael Marchan 1-2
• Brandon Marsh 1-4, K
• J.T. Realmuto 1-2
• Kyle Schwarber 1-4, 2B, BB, 2 K
• Edmundo Sosa 0-2
• Bryson Stott 0-4, 2 K
• Trea Turner 0-4, BB, 2 K

Andrew Painter has pitched in 23 games making 21 starts totaling 115 1/3 innings with a 5.54 ERA, 4.75 FIP, 1.439 WHIP and an 83 ERA+. Painter has either been fantastic or terrible over the last four weeks or so. He has multiple starts where he has allowed only one run and even has seven out shout innings. He’s also had multiple starts where he has allowed five runs. This will be his first start against the Mets and no one on the Mets has faced him before in a Major League game.

Three Things To Watch For:

1. Top of the Lineup. Three of the first four hitters in the Mets lineup went off Friday night setting the tone. Lindor, Soto and Benge combined to go 7-for-13 with two doubles a home run. Keep the pressure up!
2. Ronny Mauricio. Mauricio is back up with the Mets with the injury to Jared Young. Mauricio’s was hitting .180/.180/.260 over 17 games with the Mets with a stint in April and a stint late June, early July. Over 71 games with Syracuse he has hit .261/.302/.493 with 18 home runs. In his last 15 games he has hit .188/.224/.328. It would be great for the Mets to find him some positive at bats before the end of the season.
3. Milestones. The milestones are mostly unchanged. Francisco Lindor is still only one home run away from 300 for his career. Carson Benge is two homes away from a 20-20 season. Thanks to Juan Soto’s home run yesterday, if he ends the season on a hot streak and hits four more home runs, he can reach 30 this season.

Let’s Go Mets!

The Mets look to snap their five game losing streak tonight against the Phillies. Last week the Mets were flying high, looking to challenge the Marlins for third in the division, now the Mets are back in the cellar, two games behind the Nationals. Thursday night Aaron Nola held the Mets scoreless over seven innings and the Mets batters only mustered four hits. Jared Young had a scary collision with Nolan McLean and Young had to be carted off. After the game Andy Green told reporters that Young was having concussion symptoms. The vibes heading into the Mets final three home games are not good.

Zac Thornton is winding down his successful rookie season. Over 13 starts he pitched 73 1/3 innings with a 3.44 ERA, 4.46 FIP, 1.159 WHIP and a 119 ERA+. Thornton is coming off of a fantastic start against the Yankees where he held them to two runs over seven innings. Thornton faced the Phillies back in June when he held them to one run over six innings, scattering five hits while striking out seven batters. The Phillies have the following career stats against Thornton:

• Alec Bohm 0-3, K
• Bryce Harper 2-3
• Derek Hill 0-2, 2 K
• Brandon Marsh 0-3, 2 K
• J.T. Realmuto 1-2, 2B
• Kyle Schwarber 1-2, BB
• Edmundo Sosa 0-2, K
• Bryson Stott 0-2, K
• Trea Turner 1-3, 2B

José Urquidy was claimed by Phillies on Thursday and is pitching for them today. He won’t be eligible for the postseason roster but the Phillies are hoping he can help give the team some necessary innings between now and then. Between the Pirates and the White Sox this season, Urquidy pitched in 11 games totaling 29 innings with a 5.28 ERA, 4.37 FIP, 1.517 FIP and an 83 ERA+. He last pitched for the White Sox against the Pirates ten days ago where he racked up four innings, holding the Pirates to two runs. His first outing of the season was a relief outing against the Mets where he allowed one unearned run. The Mets have the following career stats against him:

• Marcus Semien 7-for-18, 2 2B, 2 HR, 2 BB, 2 K
• Bo Bichette 4-15, HR, BB, 4 K
• Francisco Lindor 2-6, 2B, BB, 2 K
• Luis Torrens 1-5, BB, K
• Cristian Pache 0-3, K
• Juan Soto 1-2, 2B, BB

Three Things To Watch For:

1. Francisco Lindor. Last Saturday Francisco Lindor hit two home runs including a grand slam. Since that game Lindor has gone 2-for-19 with a double and four walks (.105/.261/.158). Is getting his 300th home run becoming a weight? Just a random blip? It’s probably just a blip but it would be great for Lindor to get his 300th home run at home and get this milestone behind him.
2. Take Advantage of the Phillies. Tonight is the problem night for the Phillies. They are hoping for bulk innings from Urquidy tonight. Jhoan Duran has pitched in back-to-back games. Tonight is the night to put some pressure on this pitching staff. The Mets bats have been cold over the last couple of days, collecting only 11 singles and no runs in the last two games.
3. Nate Lavender. It’s been a few days, so it may be another Nate Lavender day tonight. The last time we saw Lavender was on Tuesday where he pitched 1 2/3 innings while striking out four batters. Over 17 games and 17 innings he has a 1.59 ERA, 1.21 FIP, 0.882 WHIP and a 261 ERA+. He also has a 11.6 K/9.

Let’s Go Mets!

The Mets start their last home series of the season tonight as they welcome the Phillies to town! This weekend the Mets will be retiring Carlos Beltran’s number and host a retirement ceremony for Howie Rose. Right now the Mets need to get back in the win column and turn the page after being swept by the Orioles this week. If anyone can do it, it’s Nolan McLean!

Nolan McLean has made 29 starts this season totaling 166 2/3 innings with a 3.24 ERA, 3.67 FIP, 1.176 WHIP and a 125 ERA+. McLean is coming off of a rough start in the Bronx where he allowed five runs from 10 hits, including two home runs, over five innings. McLean had a 1.16 ERA in the five starts leading up to that one. In his one start against the Phillies this season he shut them out over six innings while striking out 10 batters. The Phillies have the following career stats against McLean:

• Luis Arráez 0-2
• Alec Bohm 3-5, K
• Justin Crawford 0-2, 2 K
• Bryce Harper 1-9, 5 K
• Brandon Marsh 0-2
• J.T. Realmuto 0-7, BB, K
• Kyle Schwarber 0-7, 2 BB, K
• Edmundo Sosa 1-2, K
• Bryson Stott 1-6, BB, K
• Trea Turner 1-6, 2B, 3 K

The Mets bats will try to get back on the right track against Aaron Nola. Nola has made 30 starts pitching 161 1/3 innings with a 4.69 ERA, 4.85 FIP, 1.370 WHIP and a 97 ERA+. He’s also leading the league for home runs allowed with 34, the second time in three seasons he’s leading the league in that stat. Aaron Nola has been a different pitcher though over the last six weeks allowing only eight runs over 36 1/3 innings while striking out 36 batters (1.98 ERA, 3.98 FIP). In two starts against the Mets this season, Nola has allowed six runs from 13 hits over 11 innings. The Mets have the following career stats against him:

• Francisco Alvarez 5-10, 3 HR, BB, 2 K
• Brett Baty 3-15, HR, 3 BB, 4 K
• Carson Benge 2-6, K
• Bo Bichette 4-16, 2B, HR, 4 K
• A.J. Ewing 2-6, 2B, 2 K
• Francisco Lindor 8-44, 2 2B, HR, 2 BB, 11 K
• Christopher Morel 3-8, 2B, HR, BB, 4 K
• Cristian Pache 1-8, 2B, 3 K
• Marcus Semien 1-9, 2 K
• Juan Soto 13-46, 3 2B, 5 HR, 19 BB, 11 K
• Luis Torrens 2-6
• Mark Vientos 2-8, 2 BB
• Jared Young 1-7, HR, BB, 3 K

Three Things To Watch For:

1. A.J. Ewing. Ewing is back on a mini-hot streak. In his last three games he has gone 5-for-11 with a home run, a stolen base and two runs scored. He has a 3.1 bWAR and is slashing .256/.327/.383 with a 100 OPS+ over his rookie season.
2. Milestones. Francisco Lindor has four more games to reach 300 home runs at home. Carson Benge is only two home runs away from a 20-20 season.
3. Players with long histories. When baseball reorganized the schedules a few years ago to have every team play each other, teams lost sizeable chunk of their intra-division matchups. It used to be more common to have pitchers and hitters with deep histories against each other. We sort of have that tonight. Aaron Nola has been with the Phillies over his whole career. Juan Soto has been in the NL East for all but 1.5 seasons. Soto has 46 at-bats against Nola with 19 walks (.492 OBP).

Let’s Go Mets!