Mandatory Credit: Amber Searls-USA TODAY Sports

Sunday, August 8, 2021 • 1:05 P.M.
Citizens Bank Park • Philadelphia, PA
RHP Taijuan Walker (7-6, 3.86) vs. RHP Zack Wheeler (9-6, 2.57)
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The Mets try to avoid the sweep today in Philadelphia. On Friday, the Mets lost the division lead, and Saturday, the offense couldn’t get anything going until the ninth inning when they scored three runs but couldn’t overcome the 5-0 hole they started the inning with.

Now, the Phillies have Zack Wheeler, competing for a Cy Young award, up against the Mets. The Mets need a spark, they need something to get going again!

Mets Lineup

Taijuan Walker gets the start for the Mets.

In 20 games and 105.0 innings this year, he has a 3.86 ERA, 4.08 FIP, 1.229 WHIP, and a 102 ERA+. Since the All-Star break, baseball has been a struggle for Walker. He has allowed 21 runs, 20 earned, over 15.0 innings with 26 hits and 10 walks. Seven of the 13 homers he’s allowed this year have been in his last four starts.

Walker has started against the Phillies three times this season allowing a run over 4.1 innings, then four runs over six innings (his first bad start of the year on May 1) and then one run over five innings. Here’s hoping he can channel the good starts Sunday against the Phillies, who have the following career numbers against him:

Phillies Lineup

The Mets draw Zack Wheeler in the series finale today.

In 22 starts, he’s thrown a league-leading 147.0 innings and recorded 170 strikeouts (also leading the league) with a 2.57 ERA, 2.49 FIP, 1.034 WHIP and a 155 ERA+. He’s been a bit more human in his last two starts, allowing seven runs over 14.1 innings with 15 hits and three walks.

The first two times the Mets faced him this year they did fine, scoring seven runs against him in 13.1 innings on 17 hits. The last time the Mets faced Wheeler, Wheeler was able to hold the Mets to four hits and no runs over seven innings.

The Mets have the following career numbers against Wheeler:

Game Notes

J.D. Davis gets the day off after an 0-for-5 start to the series. He’s swung-and-missed and six fastballs over the last two games. Rojas had noted Davis was leaning toward trying to catch up to fastballs recently.

Noah Syndergaard pitched off a mound in Philadelphia. The righty is working his way from Tommy John surgery after suffering a setback in late May. He’s projected to return around September 1.

José Martinez, who is recovering from a torn meniscus suffered during spring training, will begin a rehab assignment soon with the St. Lucie Mets.

Let’s go Mets!