Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

Saturday, September 23, 2023 • 4:05 PM
Citizens Bank Park • Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
LHP José Quintana (3-5, 3.02) vs. RHP Zack Wheeler (12-6, 3.63)
SNY

The Mets officially were eliminated from postseason play last night, following their extra-inning loss to the Phillies. The game represented the season, Mets getting out ahead, completely losing it in the middle, and showing life late. Now the Mets and Phillies will attempt to navigate baseball this afternoon with fairly rainy conditions today. If they can get the game in today, it’s going to be a wet and windy one.

Mets Lineup

CF Brandon Nimmo
SS Francisco Lindor
LF Jeff McNeil
1B Pete Alonso
RF DJ Stewart
2B Ronny Mauricio
3B Brett Baty
DH Mark Vientos
C Omar Narváez

José Quintana has pitched 65 2/3 innings for the Mets over 11 starts this year with a 3.02 ERA, 3.38 FIP, 1.279 WHIP, and a 141 ERA+. In his last four starts, he has allowed only five runs from 20 hits over 24 2/3 innings (1.82 ERA, 3.42 FIP). Since returning to the rotation, Quintana has become a dependable starter for the Mets, going at least five innings each start with eight quality starts out of eleven total. The Phillies have the following career numbers against him:

  • Nick Castellanos 11-42, 2 HR, 7 K, 2 BB
  • Bryce Harper 0-11, 5 K
  • Trea Turner 5-15, 2B, K
  • Kyle Schwarber 1-9, 4 K
  • J.T. Realmuto 1-9, HR, 2 BB
  • Rodolfo Castro 0-4, K
  • Bryson Stott 0-1, BB
  • Alec Bohm 2-5, 2B
  • Edmundo Sosa 1-2, K

Opposing Lineup

LF Kyle Schwarber
SS Trea Turner
1B Alec Bohm
DH Bryce Harper
C J.T. Realmuto
RF Nick Castellanos
3B Edmundo Sosa
CF Johan Rojas
2B Rodolfo Castro

From one old friend to another for a second straight game, the Mets face the former Met Zack Wheeler. Over 30 starts throwing 181 innings this season, Wheeler has a 3.63 ERA, 3.22 FIP, 1.066 WHIP, and 119 ERA+. On September 12 he had an abnormally poor start allowing six runs from seven hits over five innings, including three homers against the Braves. He bounced back in his last start, also against the Braves, where he held them to one run over six innings. Wheeler faced the Mets at the end of June and allowed five runs from nine hits over 5 1/3 innings. Wheeler has struck out more than 200 batters (201) for the second time as a Phillie. He never reached that feat with the Mets. Here are the Mets’ numbers against Wheeler:

  • Brandon Nimmo 11-37, 3 2B, HR, 6 K, BB
  • Jeff McNeil 5-29, 8 K, 2 BB
  • Francisco Lindor 7-26, 2B, 3B, HR, 6 K
  • Pete Alonso 10-28, 2 2B, 5 K, BB
  • Luis Guillorme 3-14, 2B, 2 K, 2 BB
  • Daniel Vogelbach 1-12, HR, 5 K, BB
  • Rafael Ortega 3-15, 2 K
  • Omar Narváez 2-6,2 K, 2 BB
  • Brett Bay 2-5
  • Tim Locastro 1-3

Game Notes

The Mets fell to the Phillies, 5-4, in extra-innings last night. New York has lost back-to-back games and three of their last four. The Mets have outscored their opponents 98-73 in 20 games this month.

Over the last four games, Brett Baty is batting .333 (5-15) with four runs, two home runs, and three RBI with a .733 SLG and a 1.067 OPS. Against right-handed pitchers, Baty has posted a .304 OBP this season.

Francisco Lindor has recorded 30 stolen bases and 27 home runs this season. He is looking to become the fourth player in franchise history to record 30 home runs and 30 steals in a single season. He would join David Wright (2007), Howard Johnson (1991, 1989, 1987), and Darryl Strawberry (1987).

Three Things To Watch For

  1. Brett Baty! Brett Baty hit his ninth homer of the season last night, and it was the homer responsible for sending the Mets into extra innings. This was Baty’s second home run in three games now and in his last four games, he’s collected five hits in 15 trips to the plate. Not exactly lighting the world on fire, but after his deep slump this summer, this is all welcomed news.
  2. Brandon Nimmo getting on base. Nimmo already had two games this week where he recorded three hits. Last night he got to base three times the old-fashioned Nimmo way, collecting one hit and a pair of walks. Since September 3rd (18 games) Nimmo has had a .412 OBP, raising his season OBP from .355 to .362. He truly is prolific at getting on base.
  3. Milestone tracker. Francisco Lindor hit a home run yesterday! His 27th on the season. He’s now only three home runs away from a 30-30 season. Nimmo is still looking for one more home run to reach 25, Álvarez is looking for two more to get to 25 and Pete Alonso needs five more for 50 on the year.

Let’s go Mets!