Series Preview: Phillies at Mets, August 12 – 14

This past week, the Phillies proved they could compete with the best pitching in the game. They deciphered how to get to Sandy Alcantara and put four runs on the board in the eighth.

But this weekend, their challenge will be extended. They will face a better Mets offense that features red-hot Francisco Lindor and slugger Pete Alonso. And this time, they will face two former Cy Young winners in Max Scherzer and Jacob DeGrom.

Last time they met

The Phillies—who have not met the Mets since May— are 3-9 against New York this season. But it is without a doubt that the Phillies are a very different team as we approach the middle of August. Our offense has been consistent, and we have formed a shutdown bullpen.

When the Phils last saw the Mets, they were swept in New York. The Phillies showed lots of fight on offense, but their defense was atrocious. In game one, only two of the five runs that Bailey Falter allowed were earned. Corey Knebel blew his third save of the season in game three and was eventually removed from the closer’s role.

Recently, the Phillies and Mets have been playing extremely well. The Mets have won six straight games, and the Phillies have won 12 of their last 14 games.

One-inning wonders

In the Marlins series, the Phillies did a lot of their scoring in streaks. They scored three runs in the eighth inning on Wednesday, and three of the four runs they scored on Tuesday were collected in innings four and five.

With the Mets, this will not happen.

And it’s for the simplest reason you could think of: They are a very elite team.

The Mets’ rotation is led by Jacob deGrom and Max Scherzer, two of the top pitchers in the game. And if they allow runs in their outing—which is a big if—they will not come in bunches. We know the Mets aren’t going to make a lot of defensive mistakes, so jumping on Scherzer early and trying to work his pitch count will be two things the Phillies will need to juggle evenly in game one.

Switching the top of the lineup

Bryson Stott’s season stats are very deceiving. He was unplayable through the first sixty games of the season but was sent down to triple-A in hopes to find a groove. And since his return, he has been one of the more consistent hitters on the Phils. He is hitting .286 in his last 15 games.

With Schwarber’s absence, Stott will get a chance to be the leadoff hitter in a very important series. Game one will be the first time he hits in the one-hole. He has hit at the second spot in the order once this season and had one hit in four at-bats.

Pitching matchups

Game 1: Ranger Suarez (LHP, 8-5, 3.68 ERA) vs. Max Scherzer (RHP, 8-2, 1.98 ERA)

Game 2: Aaron Nola (RHP, 8-8, 3.17 ERA) vs Jacob deGrom

Game 3: Zack Wheeler (RHP, 11-5, 2.63 ERA) vs. Chris Bassitt (RHP, 9-7, 3.39 ERA)

The numbers

• Run Differential:
• Phillies: 73
• Mets: 127

• Runs Scored Per Game:
• Phillies: 4.72
• Mets: 4.86

• Runs Allowed Per Game:
• Phillies: 4.06
• Mets: 3.72

Game times and broadcasts

• Friday, August 12, at 7:10pm ET on Apple TV Plus, WTTM 1680, 94.1 WIP
• Saturday, August 13, at 7:10pm ET on NBC 10, WTTM 1680, 94.1 WIP
• Sunday, August 14, at 1:40pm ET on MLB Network, NBC Sports Philadelphia, WTTM 1680, 94.1 WIP

Game coverage will be available on Philly Sports Reports’ Twitter page.