Game chat: Phillies vs. Mets, 7:10 p.m.

Friday, September 20, 2024 • 7:10 p.m.
Citi Field • Flushing, NY
LHP Cristopher Sánchez (10-9, 3.24) vs. LHP David Peterson (9-2, 2.85)
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The Mets opened their four-game series against the Philadelphia Phillies with a bang on Thursday night, scoring ten runs for the third consecutive game, the first in franchise history, with eleven hits and four home runs. The Phillies also showed why they are one of baseball’s best teams by narrowly edging out what should have been a win in the final stretch. It will be a hard-fought battle all weekend, as the Mets cannot afford to slip up in the wild card race, while the Phillies need to win one more game to secure a playoff spot.

Photo by Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images

Mets lineup

1. Jose Iglesias – 2B
2. Starling Marte – HF
3. Mark Vientos – 3B
4. Pete Alonso – 1B
5. Brandon Nimmo – LF
6. JD Martinez – DH
7. Luis Torrens – C
8. Harrison Bader – CF
9. Luisangel Acuña – SS

David Peterson has pitched 110 1/3 innings in 19 starts this season, posting a 2.85 ERA, 3.86 FIP, 1.305 WHIP and 139 ERA+. He is one inning away from a new career high. The left-hander is off to a phenomenal start against the Phillies, holding them to just one run over 7 2/3 innings on four hits. Since early August, Peterson has been in top form, posting a 2.22 ERA and 2.96 FIP over 56 2/3 innings.

His challenge tonight will be to deal with the adjustments the Phillies made last weekend, as mentioned earlier. They have the following career numbers against the 29-year-old:

• Alec Bohm 5-19, 2 2B, 2 HR, BB, 6 K
• Nick Castellanos 3-8, 3K
• Bryce Harper 7-17, 2B, HR, 3 BB, 4 K
• Brandon Marsh 1:1, home game
• JT Realmuto 3-15, 2B, 3BB, 4K
• Johan Rojas 0-4, 2K
• Kyle Schwarber 1-13, 2B, 2BB, 8K
• Edmundo Sosa 0-1
• Bryson Stott 0:2, 1:0
• Trea Turner 3-14, 2 2B, 2 BB, 5 K
• Weston Wilson 1-3, 2B, K

Opponent formation

1. Kyle Schwarber – DH
2. Trea Turner – SS
3. Bryce Harper – 1B
4. Alec Bohm – 3B
5. Nick Castellanos – RF
6. JT Realmuto – C
7. Edmundo Sosa – 2B
8. Weston Wilson – LF
9. Johan Rojas – CF

Cristopher Sánchez has pitched 172 innings this season, compiling a 3.24 ERA, 2.86 FIP, 1.233 WHIP and 126 ERA+. If this sounds like déjà vu, it’s because Sánchez faced Peterson last weekend. In that game, he allowed just one run in seven innings against the Mets. In September, he allowed just three runs in 20 innings.

This will be his third appearance against the Mets this year. They have the following numbers against Sánchez:

• Luisangel Acuña 0-2
• Pete Alonso 4-15, 2B, home run, 5 K
• Eddy Alvarez 0-1
• Francisco Alvarez 0-4, 2 K
• Harrison Bader 2-5, BB, K
• Jose Iglesias 1-3
• Francisco Lindor 3-9, 2BBs
• Starling Marte 3-9, 2B, HR, K
• JD Martinez 2-6, 2 2B, BB, 2 K
• Brandon Nimmo 4-11, BB, 2K
• Thomas B. 1-5, home game, K
• Luis Torrens 0-2, BB
• Mark Vientos 0-6, 5 K
• Jesse Winker 0-6, 2K

Game Notes

manager Carlos Mendoza told reporters that Kodai Senga will throw 1 to 2 innings and a maximum of 30-35 pitches for Triple-A Syracuse tomorrow. The Mets plan to distribute his assignments in five-day increments, according to Tim Britton of The Athleticso if all goes well, he could possibly return to the team next weekend against the Milwaukee Brewers.

Mendoza also stated that Lindor would be doing baseball activities today in hopes of being back in the starting lineup on Saturday. He took Batting practice before the game and was throw out So there is reason to believe that his absence will not last much longer.

Three things to look out for

1. Brandon Nimmo. After defeating the Washington Nationals on Wednesday night, Nimmo asked Mets fans to pack the stadium during their final home series of the year this weekend. And that’s exactly what they did on Thursday night. Nimmo responded with a 2-for-5 night at the plate that included an RBI double, a two-run home run and two runs scored. He was a key part of the Mets’ June run and played at a high level during the All-Star break. Could he be the X-factor this weekend against the Phillies?
2. Francisco Alvarez. Alvarez hit a home run on August 19 and then again on September 11. Since then, he has hit 6 of 24 home runs, with four of his six hits being home runs. He also has 10 RBIs during that span. For comparison, he has only hit 10 home runs and 41 RBIs this season, so he found his power stroke at the right time.
3. Watch the scoreboard. There are only nine games left in the season! The San Diego Padres are two games ahead of the first Wild Card spot, while the Mets and Arizona Diamondbacks share second place, although New York has the tiebreaker over both clubs. The Atlanta Braves are, of course, two games back and have to play three games against the Mets next week. The timeless Charlie Morton competes against rookie of the Miami Marlins Valente Bellozo (123 ERA+) and Zac Gallen seems to lead the D-backs Colin Rea and the Milwaukee Brewers, while the Padres begin a series against the weaker White Sox, who, with a win, would tie the Mets’ 1962 record for most losses in a modern season.

Let’s go, Mets!