Saturday, August 18, 2018 • 4:05 p.m.
BB&T Ballpark • Williamsport, PA (Little League Classic)
LHP Jason Vargas (2-8, 8.10) vs. RHP Nick Pivetta (7-9, 4.37)
ESPN • WOR 710 AM • 104.3 WAXQ-FM HD 2 • ESPN 1050 AM

The Mets end an intense eight days today with the Little League Classic against the Phillies. This ends a five-game series with the Phillies on a rubber game and for the Mets an insane road trip that has seen them play in Miami, the Bronx, Baltimore, Philly, and now Williamsport.

Jacob deGrom yesterday sent the Mets to Williamsport on a high note tossing a complete game allowing one unearned run in a dominating performance. He was the first Mets pitcher this year to toss a complete game (he was also the last one in June 2017).

Oh also, since this game is for the Little League World Series, have you heard that Todd Frazier played in the LLWS?

Mets Lineup

  1. Amed Rosario  SS
  2. Jeff McNeil  2B
  3. Wilmer Flores  1B
  4. Michael Conforto  LF
  5. Todd Frazier  3B
  6. Austin Jackson  CF
  7. Jose Bautista  RF
  8. Kevin Plawecki  C
  9. Jason Vargas  P

Phillies Lineup

  1. Cesar Hernandez  2B
  2. Rhys Hoskins  LF
  3. Carlos Santana  1B
  4. Wilson Ramos  C
  5. Asdrubal Cabrera  3B
  6. Nick Williams  RF
  7. Scott Kingery  SS
  8. Odubel Herrera  CF
  9. Nick Pivetta  P

Get ready to make the little league jokes now. The Mets are sending out one of the more frustrating pitchers on the roster in Jason Vargas out tonight. Vargas is 2-8 over 13 games and 53.1 innings with an 8.10 ERA, 6.14 FIP, 1.781 WHIP and a 46 ERA+. He’s coming off a strong start against the Orioles where he allowed only two runs over six innings from five hits and three walks. In a rarity for Vargas this year, he was not the reason why the Mets lost that game. The Phillies have the following numbers against him:

  • Santana 9-for-41, 2 2 B, 5 BB
  • Cabrera 7-for-16, 2B, HR
  • Ramos 1-for-3
  • Bour 0-for-2

The Mets bats will try to close out the series on a strong note against Nick Pivetta. Nick is 7-9 over 24 starts and 125.2 innings with a 4.37 ERA, 3.50 FIP and 1.249 WHIP and a 96 ERA+. August has been great for Pivetta who has posted a 1.50 ERA over 18 innings in three games. He hasn’t faced the Mets yet this year but last year he posted a 4.98 ERA in four starts and 21.2 innings. The Mets have the following numbers against him:

  • Nimmo 0-for-6, BB
  • Dominic Smith 2-for-7, 2B, BB, 3 K
  • Reyes 1-for-5
  • Rosario 2-for-4
  • Conforto 1-for-2, HR, BB
  • Mesoraco 0-for-3
  • Flores 0-for-2

Game Notes

The Mets and Phillies have both been granted a 26th roster spot for tonight’s contest given the nature of this series having five games in four days. The Mets used that spot to add Dominic Smith to the roster.

Let’s Go Mets!