MMO Game Thread: Mets vs. Phillies, 7:08 PM

Kam Nedd-USA TODAY Sports

Sunday, May 2, 2021 • 7:08 P.M.
Citizens Bank Park • Philadelphia, PA
LHP David Peterson (1-3, 5.59) vs. RHP Zach Eflin (1-1, 3.58 ERA)
ESPN • WCBS 880 AM • WQBU 92.7 FM

It happened! The Mets scored runs! The Mets won a ball game!

The Mets opened up the game in a big way yesterday, stringing together a series of hits and scoring four runs in the first inning. After that feast of runs, the Mets bats fell silent again as the Phillies clawed back and eventually tied the game. Heading towards the end of the game, the Mets had several very quick innings where it felt like their old problems with hitting were returning but Michael Conforto came through! He hit a solo shot in the top of the ninth (his third go ahead homer of his career according to SNY) and the Mets hung on to the lead and won 5-4.

The Mets now have an opportunity to take the series tonight, and return to a .500 record, in front of a national audience as ESPN’s game of the week. This is not ideal for the Mets as they have a game in St. Louis tomorrow night, but it’s out of their control.

Mets Lineup

Jeff McNeil (L) 2B
Francisco Lindor (S) SS
Michael Conforto (L) RF
Pete Alonso (R) 1B
Dominic Smith (L) LF
Kevin Pillar (R) CF
Jonathan Villar (S) 3B
James McCann (R) C
David Peterson (L) P

Phillies Lineup

Andrew McCutchen (R) LF
Rhys Hoskins (R) 1B
Bryce Harper (L) RF
J.T. Realmuto (R) C
Alec Bohm (R) 3B
Didi Gregorius (L) SS
Nick Maton (L) 2B
Roman Quinn (S) CF
Zach Eflin (R) P

David Peterson returns to the mound tonight. He has started four games and pitched 19.1 innings with a 5.59 ERA, 4.70 FIP, 1.241 WHIP and 70 ERA+. In his last three starts, he has a 3.52 ERA while striking out 16 batters in 15.1 innings. His numbers are skewed by a start in Philly on April 7 where he allowed six runs, over four innings with the runs coming in his first and last inning of the outing. He then rebounded against the Phillies in his next start, holding them to one run while striking out 10 over six innings. The Phillies have the following numbers against him:

Rhys Hoskins 5-for-8, 2 2B, 2 HR, 2 K
J.T. Realmuto 1-for-3, 2B, 3 BB
Alec Bohm 1-for-5, HR, 3 K
Byrce Harper 3-for-8, 2B, 3 K
Didi Gregorius 1-for-3, 2 K
Andrew McCutchen 0-for-6, BB

The Mets go from facing Zack to Zach as they take on Zach Eflin in the series ender. In five starts and 32.2 innings this year he has a 3.58 ERA, 2.82 FIP, 1.071 WHIP and a 110 ERA+ in what is looking like his best season in the major leagues. He is coming off of a bad start against the Cardinals where he allowed five runs over 6.2 innings from nine hits. This raised his season ERA from 2.77 to 3.58. All of his good starts this year have been from the first time he has faced a team in 2021. Both of his bad starts have come from the second time he has faced a team. The Mets have the following numbers against him: