Friday, September 22, 2023 • 7:05 PM
Citizens Bank Park • Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
RHP Tylor Megill (8-8, 4.94) vs. RHP Taijuan Walker (15-5, 4.40)
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The Mets dropped the first game of the series last night 5-4 as the Phillies could hold off every comeback attempt the Mets made. The Phillies increased their lead on the first wild card spot to five games, and the Mets clinched a losing record for 2023. Last night’s results across the league put the Mets’ wild card elimination number to two, so it’s possible the Mets can also be officially eliminated from wild card play tonight.

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Mets Lineup

  1. Brandon Nimmo – CF
  2. Francisco Lindor – SS
  3. Jeff McNeil – RF
  4. Pete Alonso – DH
  5. Ronny Mauricio – 2B
  6. Brett Baty – 3B
  7. Mark Vientos – 1B
  8. Rafael Ortega – LF
  9. Omar Narváez – C

Tylor Megill has made 23 starts tossing 113 innings with a 4.94 ERA, 5.18 FIP, 1.655 WHIP and an 86 ERA+. In his last four starts, he has allowed seven runs, six earned, over 22 innings while striking out 18 batters. During this stretch, he’s had a 2.45 ERA (4.76 FIP) and has knocked his season ERA below five for the first time since June 16th. The Phillies have the following career numbers against him:

Opposing Lineup

  1. Kyle Schwarber – DH
  2. Trea Turner – SS
  3. Bryce Harper – 1B
  4. Alec Bohm – 3B
  5. Bryson Stott – 2B
  6. J.T. Realmuto – C
  7. Nick Castellanos – RF
  8. Brandon Marsh – LF
  9. Johan Rojas – CF

The Mets bats get to face an old friend tonight in Taijuan Walker. Over 29 starts, Walker has through 159 2/3 innings with a 4.40 ERA, 4.54 FIP, 1.328 WHIP and a 98 ERA+. Last year, for the Mets, he made 29 starts, throwing 157 1/3 innings with a 3.49 ERA, 3.65 FIP, 1.195 WHIP and a 111 ERA+. Walker is coming off of a rough stretch so far in September, where he has allowed 15 runs, 14 earned over his last three starts (17 1/3 innings). The Mets have the following career numbers against him:

Game Notes

Mark Vientos has homered three times in the last two games, and all of them have come with two strikes while being down in the count. That is rare among big leaguers this year and in Mets history.

Alonso was originally playing first base, but the Mets switched the lineup to have him at DH and put Vientos at first base.

Jeff McNeil has safely reached base in 14 straight games, posting a .373 OBP in that span. In 48 games since the start of August, Jeff McNeil is batting .307 (59-192) with 31 runs, nine doubles, one triple, seven home runs, 20 RBI, eight walks with five steals, a .346 OBP and a .484 SLG.

Three Things To Watch For

  1. Mark Vientos. He did it again! On Wednesday, he hit two home runs. Last night he hit another home run, bringing him to eight on the year. Since August 29th, Vientos has hit six homers and has gone 20-for-66 at the plate (.303/.343/.606). Before this stretch, he was hitting .195/.234/.305 on the season. He’s now hitting .226/.266/.389.
  2. Jeff McNeil. For the last several days, either McNeil, Nimmo, or both have had three hit nights. Yesterday was McNeil’s turn going 3-for-4 at the plate with a double and a triple. In his last four games, he is 8-for-16 with four runs scored, two doubles, a triple and a home run.
  3. Milestone Tracker. Lindor stole two bases last night, bringing him to 30 stolen bases on the season – the most he’s ever had in his career (the next closest is 25). He’s now four home runs shy of 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!