Mets vs Phillies Series Preview 4/13-4/15

Hey all – Steve here. What does this Mets team owe Jacob deGrom besides maybe 30 additional career wins? There is never any run support for the best pitcher in the game, yet he goes out every 5th day and is the best pitcher in the game. Why does it happen? Because we root for and he plays for the New York Mets. Perhaps maybe the sacrifice of, let’s say a sacrifice of a jersey of one of the least liked Mets of all-time? Maybe.

The Mets are now 2-3 on the season even though 11 days have gone by since the original Opening Day. The “welcome in” the 6-3 Philadelphia Phillies for a 4 game set at Citifield this week. Let’s get to the preview!

By the way – we are 5 games in. Relax.

Mets (2-3) vs Phillies (6-3)

Game 1 (Doubleheader)

Taijuan Walker (0-0, 3.00 ERA) vs Chase Anderson (0-1, 3.60 ERA)

Walker pitched really well in a no-decision against the Marlins as he showcased an upper-90’s velocity. While it might not be what we expected out of him, it would be incredible if that is what we do get for 2021. This will be the second start for Walker against the Phillies in his career. As for Chase Anderson, he tossed 5 innings against the Mets last week and was lucky to give up only 2 runs on his way to a loss.

Game 2 (Doubleheader)

Marcus Stroman (1-0, 1.42 ERA) vs Aaron Nola (0-0, 2.53 ERA)

Stroman was 100% right to complain about how the Mets handled the game on Sunday afternoon. There was no way that game was ever going to be played. Stroman was strong in his first start of the season against the Phillies as he tossed 6 innings and giving up just 3 hits and 1 run. Nola is Nola and he’s an ace that the Mets will have to contend with all season and it would be nice to see the bats get going sooner rather than later. The lineup was able to work long counts against Nola, so perhaps we are already on our way to getting to the bullpen on Tuesday night!

Game 3

David Peterson (0-1, 13.50 ERA) vs Zack Wheeler (1-1, 2.31 ERA)

Peterson struggled in his first start of the year. He was very excited about it and you saw James McCann attempt to calm him down several times. Hopefully he got all the jitters out and he is ready to do what he did in 2020. Wheeler? What can I say – he’s been great in Philadelphia and he has started off strong again in 2021. If only we had a new owner a year earlier.

Game 4

Jacob deGrom (0-1, 0.64 ERA) vs Zach Eflin (0-0, 3.46 ERA)

Back-to-back Zach(k)’s for the Phillies in games 3 and 4. The problem? They are going against the best pitcher in baseball. The other problem? This team LOSES more games started by deGrom than it wins because they just refuse to score runs for him.

Predictions for the series