Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports

Saturday, August 20, 2022 • 1:05 P.M.
Citizens Bank Park • Philadelphia, PA
RHP Trevor Williams (2-5, 3.02) vs. RHP Zack Wheeler (11-6,  2.92)
SNY • WCBS 880 AM • WEPN

The Mets play two against the Phillies today! If the Mets win both games today they can clinch a series victory, if they split today they set up a rubber game tomorrow and if they get swept they set up a game to prevent a series loss tomorrow. There’s a lot at stake!

Mets Lineup

  1. Brandon Nimmo – CF
  2. Starling Marte – RF
  3. Francisco Lindor – SS
  4. Pete Alonso – 1B
  5. Daniel Vogelbach – DH
  6. Jeff McNeil – 2B
  7. Tyler Naquin –  LF
  8. Brett Baty – 3B
  9. Michael Perez – C

Phillies Lineup

  1. Kyle Schwarber – DH
  2. Rhys Hoskins – 1B
  3. Alec Bohm – 3B
  4. Nick Castellanos – RF
  5. Bryson Stott – SS
  6. Jean Segura – 2B
  7. Garrett Stubbs – C
  8. Matt Vierling –   LF
  9. Bradley Zimmer – CF

Earlier in the week the Mets lost Carlos Carrasco to an injury for about a month. The two pitchers that make the most sense to fill in for Carrasco are Trevor Williams and David Peterson. Both of those pitchers will get to start today.

Trevor Williams is first up and he has been a critical player for most of the season. Over 22 games and eight starts he has tossed 65 2/3 innings with a 3.02 ERA, 4.01 FIP, 1.157 WHIP and a 131 ERA+. Since July 7th he has pitched in seven games for the Mets throwing 20.0 innings allowing zero runs. He has scattered 12 hits and three walks while striking out 16 batters. This includes a scoreless two innings of work six days ago against the Phillies. July 7th was his longest outing of the season, going seven innings against the Marlins throwing 83 pitches. At the start of August against the Braves he tossed 52 pitches. This gives us an idea of what his upper limit will probably be today. The Phillies have the following career numbers against him:

  • Kyle Schwarber 10-29, 2 2B, 4 HR, 6 BB, 3 K
  • Nick Castellanos 7-20, 4 2B, HR, 2 BB, 2 K
  • Rhys Hoskins 1-5, HR, 2 BB,2 K
  • J.T. Realmuto 2-5, 2B, HR, BB, K
  • Jean Segura 2-5
  • Alec Bohm 0-2
  • Brandon Marsh 0-1

The Mets bats will get to see Zack Wheeler – again. Over 22 starts and 132 2/2 innings, Wheeler has a 2.92 ERA, 2.97 FIP, 1.055 WHIP and a 140 ERA+. Before his last start he had a stretch of four games where he pitched a total of 27 innings allowing five earned runs from 16 hits and 6 walks while striking out 29 batters (1.67 ERA). In his last start, against the Mets, he allowed six runs from nine hits and a walk over six innings of work. The Mets have the following career numbers against him:

  • Brandon Nimmo 9-31, 3 2B, HR, 5 K
  • Pete Alonso 9-22, 2 2B, 2 BB, 4 K
  • Jeff McNeil 3-22, 2 BB, 6 K
  • Francisco Lindor 5-20, 2B, 5 K
  • James McCann 4-19, 4 K
  • Starling Marte 5-16, 2B, 3B, K
  • Mark Canha 2-8
  • Daniel Vogelbach 1-7, HR< K
  • Darin Ruf 0-4, 3 BB, 4 K
  • Tyler Naquin 1-3

Game Notes

Taijuan Walker will not pitch on Sunday but will also avoid the IL, per Mike Puma of the New York Post.

This is the Mets’ eighth doubleheader of the season. They’ve gone 11-3 in their first seven.

Since August 1,  the Mets lead the majors with 44 run scored and a +27 run differential in the first three innings.

The Mets are 37-24 on the road this year. In 2021, they went just 30-51 on the road.

Let’s go Mets!