Friday, September 4, 2020 • 7:10 p.m.
Citi Field • Flushing, NY
RHP Jake Arrieta (2-4, 6.49) vs. RHP Rick Porcello (1-4, 6.00)
SNY • WCBS 880 AM • WQBU 92.7 FM

The Mets invite the Phillies to Queens for a weekend series as the Mets look to build off two straight wins tonight. Yesterday the Mets wrapped up their Yankees series with a win in extra innings. That means in 6 games against the Yankees this year, the Mets won three times in comeback fashion and lost twice in extra innings. The Mets won this time by scoring 5 runs from the 8th inning through the 10th, including a walk off homer from Pete Alonso. In something that can only be said in 2020 – the Mets beat the Yankees twice this season with walk-off homers but once in Queens and once in the Bronx.

From the pitching perspective the Mets weren’t great yesterday. Gsellman was only able to record 5 outs before leaving, meaning the Mets needed outings from Shreve, Familia, Castro, Wilson and Diaz. Shreve, Familia and Diaz, three of the more reliable pitchers in the pen right now, didn’t allow any runs but each pitched two innings as the Mets continue to have a bullpen usage crunch.

Mets Lineup

  1. Brandon Nimmo – CF
  2. Michael Conforto – RF
  3. J.D. Davis – 3B
  4. Dominic Smith – 1B
  5. Robinson Cano – 2B
  6. Pete Alonso – DH
  7. Jeff McNeil – LF
  8. Wilson Ramos – C
  9. Andres Gimenez – SS

Phillies Lineup

  1. Andrew McCutchen – LF
  2. Rhys Hoskins – 1B
  3. Didi Gregorius – SS
  4. J.T. Realmuto – C
  5. Jean Segura – 2B
  6. Jay Bruce – DH
  7. Alec Bohm – 3B
  8. Phil Gosselin – RF
  9. Roman Quinn – CF

So a lot falls to Rick Porcello today. Primarily, he needs to have a good day for himself. He also needs to have a good day for the Mets bullpen to catch a breather. In 7 starts and 33.0 innings this year he has a 6.00 ERA, 3.10 FIP, 1.576 WHIP and 71 ERA+. He’s coming off a quasi effective start against the Yankees where he allowed 2 runs over 5.0 innings in a game the Mets eventually lost. He faced the Phillies once this year in Philly where he allowed 4 runs off 10 hits and a homer in 6.0 innings. The Phillies have the following numbers against him:

  • Alec Bohm 2-3, 2B
  • Rhys Hoskins 4-11, 2B, 2 HR, K
  • Phil Gosselin 1-2
  • Jean Segura 5-16, 3B, HR, 5 K
  • Jay Bruce 2-10, 2B, HR, 2 BB, K
  • J.T. Realmuto 4-11, 2B, BB, K
  • Andrew McCutchen 2-11, HR, 2 BB, 4 K
  • Bryce Harper 3-14, HR, BB, 5 K
  • Didi Gregorius 7-40, 2 2B, 2 HR, 3 BB, 7 K
  • Neil Walker 1-14, 5 K

The Mets bats draw Jake Arrieta who is trying to find himself this season. In 6 starts and 26.1 innings he has a 6.49 ERA, 4.88 FIP, 1.557 WHIP and 73 ERA+. He is coming off of his worst start of the season against the Braves where he allowed 7 runs in 1.1 innings, which raised his ERA from a 4.32 to a 6.49. Against the Mets in 4 games and 24.1 innings last year he allowed 17 runs, 15 earned (5.55 ERA) from 33 hits including 4 homers. The Mets have the following numbers against him:

  • Dominic Smith 4-7, 2 2B, HR, 2 BB, K
  • Jeff McNeil 13-20, 2B, HR
  • Wilson Ramos 5-13, HR, 2 BB
  • Todd Frazier 9-31, 2B, 2 HR, 10 K
  • Brandon Nimmo 3-10, 2B, 2 BB, 4 K
  • Michael Conforto 5-20, 2B, HR, 3 BB, 6 K
  • Pete Alonso 4-13, 2B, 2 K
  • Amed Rosario 3-15, HR, K
  • Robinson Cano 6-31, 2 2B, 4 BB, 7 K
  • Bill Hamilton 3-20, 2B, 5 BB, 7 K, 5 SB

Game Notes

Left-handed hitters are 0-for-19 against Chasen Shreve this season. He has not allowed a run in his last five games.

Beginning tonight, the Mets will honor with a uniform patch “41” that will be worn on the right jersey sleeve for the remainder of the year.

The Mets will pay tribute to Wheeler with a video tribute on Citi Vision at 7 p.m. tonight.

Let’s Go Mets!