Monday, August 25, 2025 • 7:10 PM
Citi Field • Flushing, NY
LHP Cristopher Sánchez (11-4, 2.46) vs. RHP Kodai Senga (7-5, 2.58)
SNY

This is potentially the biggest series of the season for the Mets. If the Mets sweep the Phillies, they will be in striking distance of the division lead again. If the Mets win the series, they’ll probably keep the Reds a safe distance behind them. If the Phillies sweep, it will be incredibly difficult for the Mets to mount a comeback with one month of the season to go.

Over the last week, we’ve seen the Mets take a series from the second-place Mariners, fall apart against the Nationals, and almost sweep the Braves. We’ll learn a lot more about who the 2025 Mets are after this series against Philly.

Mark Vientos (27) Credit: Kyle Ross-Imagn Images

Mets Lineup

  1. Francisco Lindor, SS
  2. Juan Soto, RF
  3. Starling Marte, DH
  4. Pete Alonso, 1B
  5. Mark Vientos, 3B
  6. Brandon Nimmo, LF
  7. Tyrone Taylor, CF
  8. Jeff McNeil, 2B
  9. Luis Torrens, C

Kodai Senga starts things off for the Mets this week. Over 20 starts and 104 1/3 innings, Senga has a 2.58 ERA, 4.08 FIP, 1.252 WHIP and a 152 ERA+. Senga is coming off a rough start against the Nationals, where he allowed five runs, four earned, from six hits and two walks. He’s also allowed at least one home run per start in the last six starts. The Phillies have the following career numbers against Senga:

Opposing Lineup

  1. Trea Turner, SS
  2. Kyle Schwarber, DH
  3. Bryce Harper, 1B
  4. J.T. Realmuto, C
  5. Alec Bohm, 3B
  6. Brandon Marsh, LF
  7. Max Kepler, RF
  8. Harrison Bader, CF
  9. Bryson Stott, 2B

Cristopher Sánchez is having a tremendous season for the Phillies. He has pitched 157 innings with a 2.46 ERA, 2.63 FIP, 1.096 WHIP and a 180 ERA+. His 6.2 bWAR currently leads the league. Sánchez has been slightly more human over his last two starts, allowing six runs, five earned from 13 hits over 12 1/3 innings (but still has an absurd 18 strikeouts). The Mets have the following career stats against him:

  • Pete Alonso 4-21, 2B, HR, 8 K
  • Brett Baty 0-4, 3 K
  • Francisco Lindor 6-14, 2 BB, K
  • Starling Marte 4-13, 2B, HR, 2 BB, 3 K
  • Ronny Mauricio 1-4, HR, 3 K
  • Jeff McNeil 1-9, 2B, 3 K
  • Brandon Nimmo 5-10, BB, 3 K
  • Juan Soto 2-9, 4 K
  • Tyrone Taylor 1-6, HR, 2 K
  • Luis Torrens 0-5, BB, 2 K
  • Mark Vientos 3-10, 2 2B, HR, 3 BB, 6 K

Game Notes

  • Francisco Alvarez took batting practice before Monday’s game for the first time since spraining his UCL ligament in his right thumb. Per Anthony DiComo of MLB, Alvarez is scheduled to begin a rehab assignment on Wednesday or Thursday. If he can play through the pain and be productive, he’ll likely return in September. 
  • CF Jose Siri will head to Port St. Lucie on Tuesday to begin a rehab assignment, per Abby Mastracco of the NY Daily News. He’s been out since April after suffering a fractured left tibia.
  • Tylor Megill is scheduled to pitch another game for Syracuse in September as he works back from a right elbow sprain. NY Post’s Mike Puma reports the plan is for him to extend his count to around 80 pitches.
  • The Mets placed RHP Reed Garrett on the IL before Monday’s game with right elbow inflammation. LHP José Castillo takes his spot on the roster.

Three Things To Watch For

  1. Mark Vientos. Vientos is having a week! Over his last seven games, he has gone 10-for-28 with two doubles and five home runs (including three in the previous two games) while slashing .357/.387/.964. Vientos also has great stats against Sánchez, going 3-for-10 (3 BB) with all three hits going for extra bases. Vientos has struggled for long stretches of 2025. He has a 97 OPS+ after last season’s standout 135 OPS+. The Mets need this Vientos hot streak to go on for the rest of the season.
  2. Brandon Nimmo. Nimmo entered Sunday’s game as a pinch hitter; it was his first action since being removed from the game on Wednesday with a stiff neck. Like Vientos, Nimmo has great numbers against Sánchez, and the Mets could use his .600 OBP tonight, in whatever way Nimmo is healthy enough to give it.
  3. Stat Updates. Francisco Lindor went 1-for-4 on Sunday. He is still five home runs and seven stolen bases away from another 30-30 season. Juan Soto went 1-for-3 with two walks. He now leads the league with 104 walks and is only 21 walks behind John Olreud’s single-season franchise record of 125 walks. Less likely for Soto is his first 30-30 season, although he is nine stolen bases away.

Let’s go Mets!