MMO Game Thread: Phillies vs Mets, 7:10 PM

Wednesday, April 14, 2021 • 7:10 p.m.
Citi Field • Flushing, NY
RHP Zack Wheeler (1-1, 2.35) vs. LHP David Peterson (0-1, 13.50)
SNY • WCBS 880 AM • WQBU 92.7 FM

The Mets picked up two wins yesterday! What a day!

After a frustrating loss on Saturday, the Mets had to sit out Sunday and Monday due to rain, bringing on a a doubleheader yesterday. The first game looked like it was going to be more the same – good starting pitching plus an offense that couldn’t find a hit with RISP.

This became especially true when the Phillies scratched out a run in the sixth and in the eighth innings to take a late lead in extra innings. But in the bottom on the eighth, the Mets pushed through.

Luis Rojas took advantage of a quirk in the extra innings rule that allowed him to put Lindor and not a pinch runner on 2nd, the Mets got the tying run run across, eventually loaded the bases and Jonathan Villar (who came in to pinch run earlier in the game) got the winning hit.

The Mets took the momentum into the night cap behind an electric Marcus Stroman who pitched 6.0 scoreless innings in what is probably one of his best starts to date as a Met. The offense scored four runs again, and while that doesn’t seem like a lot, after several games of barely getting two runs, four runs felt like a blowout.

So the Mets have already guaranteed a series split with the Phillies and they go for the win tonight. There is still a chance of rain, but it looks like the Mets can get the game in (the rain looks easier to deal with than Sunday or Monday). However as the night goes on the risk for rain will get worse and tomorrow’s game is in jeopardy.

Phillies Lineup

1. Andrew McCutchen – LF
2. Rhys Hoskins – 1B
3. Bryce Harper – RF
4. J.T. Realmuto – C
5. Alec Bohm – 3B
6. Jean Segura – 2B
7. Ronald Torreyes – SS
8. Roman Quinn – CF
9. Zack Wheeler – P

Mets Lineup

1. Brandon Nimmo – CF
2. Francisco Lindor – SS
3. Dominic Smith – LF
4. Pete Alonso – 1B
5. Jeff McNeil – 2B
6. Michael Conforto – RF
7. James McCann – C
8. Luis Guillorme – 3B
9. David Peterson – P

David Peterson gets the start for the Mets tonight as he looks for redemption from his first start of the year. In his first start, he allowed six runs off of seven hits and two walks in four innings pitched.

He had a terrible first inning in that start, allowing a homer early on in the inning and then the wheels came off and he ended up allowing a total of four runs. Then Peterson settled down and did quite well for the next several innings.

Unfortunately he got off to a rough start in the fifth and was pulled for Jacob Barnes, who promptly gave up a 3-run homer to J.T. Realmuto on his first pitch, tagging Peterson for an extra two runs. The Phillies have the following numbers against Peterson:

• Rhys Hoskins 4-5, 2 2B, 2 HR, K
• Alec Bohm 1-3, HR, K
• Bryce Harper 3-5, 2B, K
• Jean Segura 1-3, 2B, BB, 2 K
• Matt Joyce 0-1
• J.T. Realmuto 0-1, 3 BB
• Didi Gregorius 1-3, 2 K
• Andrew McCutchen 0-3, BB
• Adam Haseley 0-2

The Mets bats will see an old friend who has flourished since leaving Queens – Zack Wheeler. Over two starts this year he has allowed three runs over 11 2/3 innings pitched from eight hits and four walks, while striking out an amazing 14 batters.

In his first start, Wheeler shut out Atlanta over seven innings, allowing just one hit and striking out 10. Most of the damage against him came in his second start, also against Atlanta, where he pitched 4 2/3 innings and allowed three runs.

Last season, his first with the Phillies, Wheeler pitched 11 games and 71.0 innings with a 2.92 ERA, 3.22 FIP, 1.169 WHIP and a 151 ERA+. It was his best season for ERA, FIP and ERA+. In three starts against the Mets he allowed eight runs from 21 hits and a walk over 20 1/3 innings, a 3.54 ERA. The Mets have the following numbers against him:

• Pete Alonso 1-2
• Jose Peraza 2-5 2B, BB
• Albert Almora Jr. 2-5
• Luis Guillorme 1-3, BB
• Dominic Smith 3-9, 2B, 2 K
• Michael Conforto 3-9, 2B, 3 K
• Jeff McNeil 2-6, 2 K
• Jonathan Villar 3-11, 3 K
• Brandon Nimmo 2-10, 2B, K
• Kevin Pillar 1-8, K

Game Notes

• In two career starts against the Phillies, David Peterson is 0-1 with a 16.50 ERA (11 earned runs/6.0 innings) with eight strikeouts and six walks.
• In Peterson’s nine career appearances against all other clubs, the lefty owns a 2.64 ERA (14 earned runs/47.2 innings).
• Brandon Nimmo has safely reached base at least twice in all seven games this season. Only David Wright has a longer streak to start a season, reaching base at least twice in 10-straight games to start the 2012 season.
• Nimmo currently has an on-base streak of 20 games, which is the second-best mark in baseball behind Mike Trout at 30 games.
• Zack Wheeler returns to Citi Field tonight to pitch in front of fans for the first time since leaving the team prior to the 2020 season. He is 19-23 with a 4.16 ERA, 131 walks and 366 strikeouts in 61 starts at Citi Field.

Let’s Go Mets!

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