Wendell Cruz-USA TODAY Sports

Friday, June 23, 2023 • 7:05 PM
Citizens Bank Park • Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
RHP Kodai Senga (6-4, 3.53) vs. RHP Taijuan Walker (7-3, 4.31)
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The Mets have had a rough month – can they turn it around in Philly?

After taking the first game in Houston, the Mets dropped the next two games in disappointing fashion. Now they start a series against the red-hot Phillies. Despite losing their last two games, the Phillies have won seven of their last ten games and are now two games above .500. It’s worth noting that their expected record is 35-39, and they have a -19 run differential. The Mets have an expected record of 36-38, better than their actual record, with a -15 run differential.

Mets Lineup

The Mets turn to Kodai Senga today to get the team back on track. Over 13 games and 71 1/3 innings, Senga has a 3.53 ERA, 4.24 FIP, 1.332 WHIP, and a 118 ERA+. In his last start, he allowed four runs over 6 2/3 innings. Senga looked good against the Cardinals, racking up eight strikeouts, but the homers crushed him early. His best start of the season was against the Phillies, where he held them to one hit while striking out nine over seven innings of work. The Phillies have the following numbers against Senga:

Opposing Lineup

The Mets bats will get to see an old friend today as they take on Taijuan Walker this evening. Over 15 starts and 77 1/3 innings, he has a 4.31 ERA, 4.53 FIP, 1.280 WHIP, and a 98 ERA+. Walker is coming off of an excellent start where he allowed only one run, scattering seven hits over eight innings. In his last three starts, he’s allowed only one run over 20 innings while striking out 21 batters. Before this hot streak, he took on the Mets, who got him for three runs from two hits and a homer over four innings. The Mets have the following numbers against Walker:

Game Notes

Struggling starter Tylor Megill has been optioned to Triple-A Syracuse and the Mets have recalled right-handed reliever Vinny Nittoli. Nittoli will give the Mets an arm in the pen as they decide who to slot into Megill’s rotation spot.

Make sure to check out our Series Preview!

Three Things To Watch For

  1. Welcome Vinny Nittoli. Nittoli was traded to the Cubs from the Mets for future considerations at the start of June. In five games for Syracuse this season, he has a 5.06 ERA over 5 1/3 innings. Nittoli has bounced around several organizations during his time in professional ball. He was drafted by the Mariners in 2014, released in 2017, and then signed with the Diamondbacks in 2018. He then went to the Blue Jays, back to the Mariners, to the Twins, to the Yankees, back to the Blue Jays, was traded to the Phillies, and finally to the Cubs before joining the Mets. He’s only pitched three innings in the major leagues, including two scoreless innings last year.
  2. Alonso is back! After having a few difficult games since returning from the injured list, Alonso hit his 23rd homer of the season on Wednesday. Alonso continues to lead the National League in homers and is only one homer behind Ohtani for the major league lead. Looking ahead to this series, Alonso has a .459 slugging percentage at Citizens Bank Park and has hit seven homers over 34 games.
  3. Is Vogel-bach? Daniel Vogelbach went 3-for-5 in Wednesday’s game. It was his second consecutive game where he had multiple hits. We talked about his bounce back here. Since June 16th, when he hit his first homer in five weeks, Vogelbach has gone 7-for-17 at the plate with a double, two homers, and only three strikeouts. Can he keep his 1.268 OPS during this stretch going?

Let’s go Mets!