Saturday, September 30, 2023 • 4:10 PM
Citi Field • Flushing, NY
 RHP Taijuan Walker (15-5, 4.35) RHP Tylor Megill (3-6, 3.39)
SNY

The Mets head into the last series of the season with quite a bit of uncertainty. Thursday’s game was suspended in the bottom of the ninth with the Mets down one run. If the game is needed, and there’s a high chance it will be, the Mets and Marlins will finish playing on Monday. New York had a historic amount of rain since Thursday, causing massive flooding throughout the area and leading the Mets to call yesterday’s game against the Phillies rather early. Now we get two games today!

In addition to all of the weather news, the Mets have had a couple of injuries in the last couple of days. Jeff McNeil has a partial tear in his UCL, while surgery is not expected, he’s done for the season. Brandon Nimmo sustained a shoulder season on Thursday likely ending his 2023 campaign.

Mets Lineup

CF Rafael Ortega
3B Ronny Mauricio
1B Pete Alonso
SS Francisco Lindor
RF DJ Stewart
DH Brett Baty
2B Luis Guillorme
C Omar Narváez
LF Danny Mendick

Tylor Megill looks to end a bumpy 2023 on a positive note today. Over 24 starts this season he has pitched 119 innings with a 4.92 ERA, 5.14 FIP, 1.622 WHIP, and an 86 ERA+. In the month of September, he has allowed nine runs, eight earned over 22 innings (3.27 ERA, 5.67 FIP) while striking out 16 batters. This includes his last start which was also against the Phillies where he allowed three runs over six innings from five hits. The Phillies have the following career numbers against him:

Opposing Lineup

DH Kyle Schwarber
SS Edmundo Sosa
1B Bryce Harper
C J.T. Realmuto
2B Bryson Stott
CF Brandon Marsh
3B Weston Wilson
LF Jake Cave
RF Cristian Pache

The Mets bats will get to face Taijuan Walker one more time this season. Over 30 starts (165 2/3 innings) Walker has a 4.35 ERA, 4.46 FIP, 1.316 WHIP, and a 99 ERA+. In his first three starts in September, he allowed 15 runs, 14 earned over 17 1/3 innings (7.27 ERA). He had a much better start his last time out, against the Mets no less, where he allowed two runs over six innings from five hits and a walk. The Mets have the following career numbers against him:

  • Francisco Lindor 2-13, 3 K, BB
  • Brandon Nimmo 3-9, 2B, HR, K, 2 BB
  • Rafael Ortega 2-5, 2 K, BB
  • Pete Alonso 2-7, 2 2B, 3 K, BB
  • Brett Baty 0-5, K
  • DJ Stewart 0-5, 2 K
  • Omar Narváez 1-4, K, BB
  • Daniel Vogelbach 0-4, K
  • Francisco Álvarez 0-4, 2 K
  • Ronny Mauricio 0-3
  • Mark Vientos 0-2

Game Notes

The Mets welcome the Phillies to Citi Field for their last series of the season. The Mets, who dominated the Phillies to a 14-5 record in 2022, are 4-6 against the Phils this season.

Tylor Megill was swapped to pitch Game 1 of the doubleheader today. Megill has been solid against the Phillies and has a 3.38 ERA against them this season.

Brandon Nimmo is likely done for the season after it was revealed he injured his shoulder on Thursday. Nimmo had a breakout year in the power department and hit a career-high 24 home runs in 2023, which is currently the third most on the Mets.

Three Things To Watch For

  1. Brett Baty. Baty has been emerging this month from his summer-long slump, collecting 12 hits over 18 games (not including his 1-for-3 performance last night which isn’t official yet) including a double a two homers. We would love to see Baty have a big weekend to end 2023 off on a positive note and gain some momentum heading into the off-season.
  2. Ronny Mauricio. Mauricio has become the reason to watch the Mets since he was called up. He’s collected 21 hits in 86 trips hitting .244/.286/.349. He’s cooled off a bit after his torrid start. Can Ronny get one or two more extra-base hits to close out the season? His two homers have been absolute lasers.
  3. Milestone Tracker. Time is really starting to run out on these! Francisco Lindor needs four RBIs this weekend to reach 100 for the second season in a row (and the second time in his career). Álvarez is looking for two more to get to 25 and Pete Alonso needs four more for 50 on the year (unlikely, but not impossible).

Let’s go Mets!