Game Chat: Mets vs Phillies, 6:40 PM

Thursday, May 28, 2024 • 6:40 PM
Citizens Bank Park • Philadelphia, PA
LHP Jose Quintana (1-4, 5.44) vs. RHP Taijuan Walker (3-0, 4.82)
SNY • MLBN

The Mets look to salvage a game this afternoon after losing three straight to the Phillies. The week started off with the Mets losing to the Phillies after blowing the save in the ninth inning in Queens. Since then, the Mets have not hit well or pitched well, and the vibes are not great.

What did work Wednesday was Mark Vientos rejoining the roster. Vientos went 2-for-4 at the plate with a double, RBI and run scored. Through the fourth inning it looked like the Mets had a chance at the this game! But then the Mets allowed nine runs between the 5th and the 7th. The Mets desperately need a good day on both sides of the plate to reset the energy around the team.

Mets Lineup

1. Tyrone Taylor – CF
2. Pete Alonso – 1B
3. Francisco Lindor – SS
4. J.D. Martinez – DH
5. DJ Stewart – LF
6. Starling Marte – RF
7. Brett Baty – 3B
8. Jeff McNeil – 2B
9. Omar Narváez– C

Jose Quintana has pitched 41 1/3 innings over eight starts this season with a 5.44 ERA, 4.95 FIP, 1.548 WHIP and a 70 ERA+. Quintana had a rough start to May, where he allowed eight runs over 2 2/3 innings against the Rays. In his last start, he allowed four runs over five innings to the Braves, and all four runs scored in one bad inning of work. Over this season, his xERA of 6.20 puts him in the 4th percentile and xBA of .317 in just the 2nd percentile.

His 2023 campaign ended with back-to-back starts against the Phillies that did not go so great, ballooning his season ERA from 3.02 to 3.57. He allowed ten runs, eight earned over ten innings pitched from 15 hits, including three homers. The Phillies have the following career numbers against Quintana:

• Alec Bohm 3-11, 2B, HR, 2 K
• Nick Castellanos 12-46, 3B, 2 HR, 2 BB, 8 K
• Bryce Harper 2-14, HR, 5 K
• Whit Merrifield 4-15, 2 BB, 2 K
• Cristian Pache 1-2
• J.T. Realmuto 2-12, HR, 2 BB
• Johan Rojas 3-5, 2 K
• Kyle Schwarber 4-16, 2B, HR, 7 K
• Edmundo Sosa 2-7, 3 K
• Bryson Stott 0-1, BB
• Garrett Stubbs 0-2

Opposing Lineup

1. Kyle Schwarber – DH
2. J.T. Realmuto – C
3. Bryce Harper – 1B
4. Alec Bohm – 3B
5. Nick Castellanos – RF
6. Whit Merrifield – 2B
7. Brandon Marsh – LF
8. Edmundo Sosa – SS
9. Cristian Pache – CF

The Mets bats will face an old friend today in Taijuan Walker. Over three starts (18 2/3 innings), Walker has a 4.82 ERA, 5.25 FIP, 1.330 WHIP, and an 84 ERA+. He is coming off of his best start of the season, where he held the Marlins to only one run over six innings despite allowing eight hits. Walker and the Mets matched up four times last season, leading to 23 innings of work with 10 runs from 14 hits (3.91 ERA). The Mets have the following career numbers against him:

• Pete Alonso 2-10, 2 2B, BB, 3 K
• Harrison Bader 0-6, 2 K
• Brett Baty 1-9, K
• Francisco Lindor 2-15, 2 BB, 4 K
• Starling Marte 0-6, BB
• J.D. Martinez 7-14, 2B, HR, 3 K
• Jeff McNeil 1-7
• Omar Narváez 2-7, HR, BB, K
• Brandon Nimmo 3-9, 2B, HR, 2 BB, K
• DJ Stewart 0-7, BB, 2 K
• Tyrone Taylor 1-3, 2 K
• Mark Vientos 0-2

Game Notes

Brandon Nimmo was scratched from the lineup.

Before the game, the Mets recalled left-hander Josh Walker from Triple-A Syracuse and optioned lefty Joey Lucchesi to Triple-A. Lucchesi struggled in his season debut on Wednesday in the Mets’ 10-5 loss.

Steve Cohen clarified his deleted Tweet from Wednesday night.

Brandon Sproat was good in his Double-A debut, and Nick Morabito stole three bases on Wednesday.

David Stearns told reporters that relief prospect Nate Lavender had internal brace surgery (variation of Tommy John) to repair the UCL in his left elbow.

Three Things To Watch For

1. J.D. has the hottest bat right now. The Mets signed J.D. to hit, which he has been doing recently for them. Since May 7, Martinez has gone 9-for-28 at the plate with two doubles and two homers (.321/.345/.607). In the last three games, he has gone 5-for-12 with three extra-base hits.
2. Francisco Lindor – base stealer. In 2023, Lindor recorded his first 30-30 season, hitting 31 homers and stealing 31 bases. Yesterday, he stole two bases in the same game, bringing his total to six on the year. This puts him back on track for at least a 20-20 season, and this projection can be bumped up even higher when he starts to heat up at the plate.
3. Well, at least Hartwig and Houser ate innings. On Wednesday, Hartwig and Houser allowed five runs over 3 2/3 innings. Not great, and it put the game out of reach for the Mets. At least they could finish the game, so higher-leverage arms are fresh for tonight’s match.

Let’s go Mets!

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