Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

Saturday, May 28, 2022 • 7:15 P.M.
Citi Field • Flushing, NY
RHP Zach Eflin (1-3, 3.65) vs. RHP Taijuan Walker (2-0, 2.70)
FOX • WCBS 880 AM • WEPN

Last night was like if the Mets were possessed by the San Francisco Giants. The Mets got out to an early 7-0 lead and seemed to be in cruise control until the sixth inning. Carrasco gave up a couple of soft hits and the Phillies were in business. They kept the line moving and scored six runs. The Mets were able to claw another run out in the next frame, and held on for the 8-6 victory.

Mets Lineup

  1. Luis Guillorme – 2B
  2. Starling Marte – RF
  3. Francisco Lindor – SS
  4. Pete Alonso – 1B
  5. Jeff McNeil – LF
  6. Eduardo Escobar – 3B
  7. Mark Canha – CF
  8. Dominic Smith – DH
  9. Patrick Mazeika – C

Phillies Lineup

  1. Kyle Schwarber – LF
  2. Alec Bohm – 3B
  3. Bryce Harper – DH
  4. Nick Castellanos – RF
  5. Jean Segura – 2B
  6. Rhys Hoskins – 1B
  7. J.T. Realmuto – C
  8. Odubel Herrera – CF
  9. Johan Camargo – SS

Now the Mets look to take the series against Philly tonight with Taijuan Walker on the mound. Over his first six starts and 30 innings he has a 2.70 ERA, 3.71 FIP, 1.167 WHIP, and a 146 ERA+. He’s coming off of one of his best starts of the season where he allowed no runs over seven innings (second time this month!) from five hits and two walks while striking out six.

Walker has faced the Phillies a lot this year. Over his first two starts (separated by 19 days from an injury he suffered in his first start) he allowed no runs over seven innings from two hits and two walks. Then in his next start, in Philly, he allowed seven runs, six earned, over four innings from nine hits and two walks. To put that in perspective, he’s allowed ten total runs this season. Seven were in that one start. The Phillies have the following numbers against Walker:

  • Bryce Harper 5-20, 2 2B, 2 HR, BB, 4 K
  • Didi Gregorius 4-19, 2B, 3 K
  • Alec Bohm 6-15, 2B, HR, 2 BB, K
  • Kyle Schwarber 6-15, 2B, 5 HR, 2 BB, 3 K (1.973 OPS)
  • J.T. Realmuto 4-13, HR, BB, 2 K
  • Jean Segura 5-14, HR, K
  • Rhys Hoskins 1-12, BB, 4 K
  • Nick Castellanos 4-12, 2 HR, 3 K

The Mets bats will get a look at Zach Eflin who might be having his best season in the majors. Over seven starts and 37 innings he has a 3.65 ERA, 2.95 FIP, 1.135 WHIP and a 110 ERA+. Since facing the Mets at the start of May he has allowed three runs over 13 innings from nine hits and two walks while striking out 17 batters. That start against the Mets though wasn’t pretty (well, depending on your perspective, we are Mets fans after all). He gave up six runs, five earned from eight hits and a walk in 4 1/3 innings, a game the Mets eventually won 10-6. The Mets have the following career numbers against Zach:

  • Jeff McNeil 8-25, 3 2B, 3B, 2 BB, 3 K
  • Pete Alonso 3-17, HR, BB, 3 K
  • Dominic Smith 7-17, 4 2B, BB, 5 K
  • Brandon Nimmo 1-14, 2 BB, 5 K
  • Starling Marte 7-13, 5 2B, HR, K
  • Francisco Lindor 1-10, 4 K
  • Luis Guillorme 2-7, 2B
  • Eduardo Escobar 3-5, K

Game Notes

Brandon Nimmo has a sore wrist, according to Buck Showalter. He’s considered “day-to-day” and could pinch hit tonight.

The Mets called up outfielder Nick Plummer from Triple-A Syracuse. They sent down Yoan Lopez, who successfully served his one-game major league suspension.

Let’s go Mets!