The New York Mets and the Philadelphia Phillies meet Saturday in MLB action from Citizens Bank Park. This will be the second installment in a three-game series over the weekend. In the Friday opener, Philly bagged a four-run victory. Check back all season long for free MLB picks at Sports Chat Place.
New York Mets
The Mets played the Astros this week, losing two of three games. In Friday’s opener versus the Phillies, New York had just three team hits and couldn’t score outside the third inning in a 5-1 loss. Kodai Senga lasted 5.1 innings in the start with two earned on five hits and three walks.
For the starter job on Saturday it’ll be Carlos Carrasco. Over his nine starts this year Carrasco is 2-3 with a 6.34 ERA and 28 Ks in 44.0 innings. Carrasco is 106-88 with a 3.95 ERA in 292 career games (245 starts).
Philadelphia Phillies
Over on the Phillies’ side, they played a pair versus the Braves this week and lost both games. On Friday Philadelphia scored twice in the first inning and three times in the sixth during the win. Starter Taijuan Walker managed 6.0 innings with one earned, three hits and a walk.
Christopher Sanchez will take the mound for the Phillies on Saturday. Across his pair of starts without a decision this year, Sanchez has a 3.24 ERA with 10 Ks in 8.1 frames. Sanchez is 3-2 with a 5.16 ERA in 24 career games (six starts).
The Mets are 7-20 in their last 27 road games and 3-13 in their last 16 versus a lefty starter. New York is 21-46 in their last 67 road games versus a team with a winning record.
Meanwhile, the Phillies are 5-1 in their last six Saturday games and 2-7 in their last nine versus the NL East. The under is 3-0-1 in Philly’s last four Saturday games.
ANDREW’S FREE PICK
I’ll probably take a stab on the Phillies here. Also probably not touching it. Sanchez had a decent start his last time up, going 4.0 innings with zero earned on one hit and one walk. As for Carrasco, he’s been quite choppy lately with 11 earned in his last 12.2 innings. On Friday Philadelphia got a great effort from the bullpen with 3.0 innings, zero hits, zero earned, two walks and five strikeouts. The offense was pretty well balanced also with hits from six different players. I like Philly to keep it up in game two.