The Marlins were able to push through the Mets Friday night. The Mets still have a chance to win the series, but that would require winning today and tomorrow. Freddy Peralta was scratched from the start a few hours before first pitch as trade talk started to ramp up. The Mets only used Curry in the bullpen last night, protecting everyone else who could be traded this weekend. We’ll see if the Mets use that same approach this afternoon.
Zac Thornton has made five starts totaling 29 2/3 innings this season with a 2.43 ERA, 3.20 FIP, 0.910 WHIP and a 173 ERA+. He started July off with two spectacular back-to-back starts allowing no runs over 13 innings. His last time out was more human, but still effective, holding the Braves to three runs over 6 1/3 innings while striking out five. This will be his first start against the Marlins and no one on the Marlins have faced Thornton in a Major League game.
Tyler Phillips has pitched in 27 games including 11 starts this season totaling 84 1/3 innings with a 3.52 ERA, 4.60 FIP, 1.364 WHIP and a 114 ERA+. Phillips fully joined the rotation in the second week of June and has a 5.05 ERA, 5.63 FIP over 41 innings. His last two starts have been a step in the right direction, allowing five runs, four earned, over 9 1/3 innings (3.86 ERA). In two games against the Mets this year he allowed three runs over 8 2/3 innings. The Mets have the following career stats against Phillips:
- Francisco Alvarez 0-1
- Brett Baty 1-4, 2 K
- Carson Benge 2-5, 2B, 2 K
- Bo Bichette 1-6, K
- A.J. Ewing 1-4
- Francisco Lindor 1-3
- Jorge Polanco 1-1, 2B
- Marcus Semien 2-4, 2B
- Tyrone Taylor 1-1, BB
- Luis Torrens 0-2
- Jared Young 1-2, K
Three Things To Watch For:
- Francisco Lindor. Lindor went 2-for-3 yesterday with a home run and a walk (we are just going to ignore the stretching a single into a double, getting caught in a rundown situation last night). He’s now one homerun away from 10 on the year, something he has done every year his career except for the covid season. Since July 19, Lindor has slashed .333/.444/.689 with two doubles, a triple and four home runs over 12 games.
- Carson Benge. Benge has a four game hitting streak going where he has gone 7-for-15 at the plate with two doubles and a stolen base. Since the start of July Benge has slashed .302/.371/.430 over 23 games. Benge and Ewing will be the brightest spots of this 2026 season.
- Jonathan Pintaro. The Mets recalled Pintaro after putting Cionel Pérez on the injured list. Pintaro’s role this weekend is to eat innings that would normally go to the pitchers the Mets will trade by Monday. Over five games this season Pintaro has pitched 12 1/3 innings with a 5.11 ERA, 5.53 FIP, 0.730 WHIP and an 83 ERA+. He has struggled to keep the ball in the park, already allowing three homers this season. Twice this season he has pitched three or more innings and four out of five games he has tossed more than 40 pitches.
Let’s Go Mets!
