Mandatory Credit: Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports

Sunday, September 19, 2021 • 7:08 P.M.
Citi Field • Flushing, NY
RHP Kyle Gibson (10-7, 3.49) vs. LHP Rich Hill (6-7, 3.88)
SNY • WCBS 880 AM • WQBU 92.7

“Starting to worry about the Mets” – Jon Heyman

The Mets lost their fifth straight game Saturday as they continued to radically fall out of playoff contention. The Mets are now five games below .500, are 5.5 games back in the division, and seven games back in the Wild Card. The Mets five-game losing streak has come at the same time that the Braves have gone on a four game losing streak and the Phillies on a four game winning streak. In what has become a theme for the last couple of months, the Mets have had chances to make a move and just couldn’t.

Mets Lineup

Rich Hill gets the start tonight as the Mets get the Sunday Night game for the second week in a row.

In 29 games and 144 innings this year, he has a 3.88 ERA, 4.44 FIP, 1.181 WHIP and a 102 ERA+. His numbers as a Met are nearly identical, pitching in 10 games and 48.2 innings with a 3.88 ERA, 4.23 FIP, 1.212 WHIP and a 103 ERA+. Rich Hill started off September dominating in back-to-back starts, allowing only one run and eight hits over 12 innings. His last start was not as dominant, allowing three runs over five innings against the Cardinals. Tonight is his first start against the Phillies this year, and the Phillies have the following numbers against him:

Phillies Lineup

The Mets bats draw Kyle Gibson in the series finale.

Gibson was a big trade deadline acquisition for the Phillies. As a Ranger, he made 19 starts, pitched 113 innings with a 2.87 ERA, 3.75 FIP, 1.177 WHIP and a 152 ERA+. In nine games and 52 innings with the Phillies, he has a 4.85 ERA, 4.04 FIP, 1.346 WHIP and a 85 ERA+. His downturn has been a more recent phenomenon, starting with a start against the Marlins on September 3 where he allowed eight runs on eight hits over 5 1/3 innings. Overall in September, Gibson has allowed 15 earned runs from 20 hits and 6 walks over 15 innings. Opponents are hitting .323/.382/.565 against him this month.

He did face the Mets earlier this year and held the Mets to one run on four hits and four walks over 6.0 innings. The Mets have the following numbers against him:

Game Notes

Jonathan Villar is just getting a routine day off Sunday night, according to Luis Rojas.

Rojas said Noah Syndergaard threw 15 to 20 fastballs and changeups in a side bullpen session today. It should be his last bullpen ahead of a rehab assignment this week.

Let’s go Mets!