The New York Mets host the Philadelphia Phillies for a three-game series that should be quite entertaining. This weekend could end up as an early preview for a playoff series down the line, as it does look more likely that both of these teams will make the postseason in 2022. The Mets have dominated the season series against the Phillies so far, winning nine of the first 12 games between these teams.

It was only just a few weeks ago when it seemed like the Atlanta Braves were ready to move into first in the NL East, but that never materialized. Instead, the Mets went ahead and put some distance between themselves and the rest of the division, mostly down to them taking four of five from the second placed Braves. The acquisitions of Daniel Vogelbach and Tyler Naquin have been this crucial for this group, and the consistency of Francisco Lindor and Jeff McNeil among others have helped the Mets get to where they are this late in the year.

What the Phillies have been able to accomplish since superstar Bryce Harper went down with a fractured left thumb on June 25th has been incredible. The team has gone from being way out of the playoff picture to currently owning the second wild card spot in the National League in the middle of August. The Phillies may be without one of their best hitters for a game or two of this series. All-Star outfielder Kyle Schwarber left yesterday’s game against the Marlins with a right calf strain and is considered to be day to day. The 29-year-old leads the National League in home runs with 34 this season.

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Friday, August 12, 2022: LHP Ranger Suárez (8-5, 3.68 ERA) vs. RHP Max Scherzer (8-2, 1.98 ERA)

Ranger Suárez is having a very successful season as a backend starter in the Phillies rotation. The left-handed pitcher has given his team a chance to win almost every time he has taken the mound. The 26-year-old has fascinating home/road splits, as his numbers away from home are much better in 2022. Suárez has pitched to a 6-1 record with a 2.87 ERA in nine road starts this season. In comparison, he is 2-4 with a 4.60 ERA in ten outings at Citizens Bank Park. Suárez has only made one start against the Mets this season, but that came all the way back on April 11. It was not a good outing for the Phillies starter, as he gave up three runs on five hits in just 2 2/3 innings. Suárez earned the victory in his last start, allowing three runs on seven hits while striking out five in 5 1/3 against the Washington Nationals.

Max Scherzer has been at his best since he returned from the injured list in the first week of July. The right-hander has surrendered two earned runs or less in each of his last nine starts. Scherzer has made three starts against Phillies this season, pitching to a 2-1 record with a 4.24 ERA in 17 innings of work. His last outing against them came back on May 8, when the 38-year-old gave up three runs on ten hits with seven strikeouts in six innings. Scherzer had one of his best performances of the season last time out, as he pitched seven scoreless innings while striking out 11 to help the Mets secure a doubleheader sweep over the Atlanta Braves last Saturday.

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Saturday, August 13, 2022: RHP Aaron Nola (8-8, 3.17 ERA) vs. RHP Jacob deGrom (1-0, 2.53 ERA)

Aaron Nola has been a workhorse out of the Phillies rotation, as his ability to pitch deep into games has been crucial to the overall success of the team. The right-hander ranks second in the league in innings pitched, only trailing Sandy Alcántara of the Miami Marlins. The 29-year-old has struggled in a few of his most recent outings, giving up five earned runs in two different starts last month. Nola will be making his fourth start of the season against the Mets, and he is 0-2 with a 3.86 ERA in 16 1/3 innings of work against his divisional opponent. His last start was a good one, as he gave up one run on five hits in six innings of work against the Washington Nationals.

Jacob deGrom may have missed 13 months with a multitude of injuries, but it has not looked that way through two starts. The 33-year-old has struck out 18 hitters in just 10 2/3 innings of work, something he was accustomed to doing before his absence. DeGrom produced one of his signature performances against the Braves last Sunday, carrying a perfect game into the sixth inning. Dansby Swanson knocked the right-hander out of the game with a two-run home run to right field, but the Mets starter gave fans a glimpse of what is to come moving forward. His combination of the fastball and slider had the Braves lineup off-balance all day. If deGrom is healthy and pitching on a major league mound, he is still the best starter in baseball. 

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Sunday, August 14, 2022: RHP Zack Wheeler (11-5, 2.63 ERA) vs. Chris Bassitt (9-7, 3.39 ERA)

Zack Wheeler has been one of the best pitchers in the National League after a difficult start to the season. The right-hander had a 5.79 ERA through four starts in April but has picked it up ever since. Wheeler has given up two runs or less in six of his last seven starts. The only exception came against the Toronto Blue Jays on July 13, when he conceded six runs on seven hits in 4 2/3 innings. The 32-year-old will be making his third start of the season against his former team, his first since May. Wheeler has struggled a bit more on the road versus at home in 2022, pitching to a 3.88 ERA in 58 innings of work. He has been nearly untouchable at home, owning a 6-2 record with a 1.57 ERA in 68 2/3 innings.

Chris Bassitt has been really good for the Mets rotation in 2022, but what he has been able to do in his last few starts has been even more impressive. The right-hander has given up no runs in each of his last two outings, including eight scoreless his last time out against the Cincinnati Reds. The 33-year-old did give up eight hits in that game but was able to work through traffic on the bases, time and time again. Bassitt has performed really well against the Phillies this season, pitching to a 1-0 record with a 1.54 ERA in 11 2/3 innings.

Series Prediction

The Mets and Phillies are two of the hottest teams in baseball, which should set up for a series that could go either way. If the Mets can take care of business with their two best pitchers on the mound, they will win this series. But with Zack Wheeler on the mound Sunday, they expect the Phillies to take at least one game this weekend. The Mets are more than capable of sweeping the Phillies at Citi Field, but they will have the settle for two of three.