The New York Mets (76-67) invade the City of Brotherly Love to close out their ten-game road trip with four against the Philadelphia Phillies (83-60). As you may recall, the Mets swept the Phillies in a thrilling series in late August at Citi Field. The three-game sweep brought the Mets to within four games, but since then the Phillies have bounced back while the Mets have been stuck in neutral; as a result, Philadelphia’s division lead has grown back up to seven games. While the Mets have already
won the season series and would carry the tiebreaker, they face a tough challenge in looking to catch up with the Phillies, and only a sweep would really serve them well.
The Mets head to Philadelphia after dropping two of three against the Cincinnati Reds over the weekend. The series began on a positive note with the Mets winning a wild, unforgettable game on Friday by a 5-4 score, but it was mainly the final inning that fans will be talking about for years. The Mets put a up a three-spot in the first, but could have gotten more had it not been for TJ Friedl robbing Brandon Nimmo of a three-run home run. Mark Vientos hit a solo homer later in the game, and New York carried a 5-1 lead into the fourth, when David Peterson yielded three runs to make it a one-run game. That’s where things stayed until the ninth, when Edwin Díaz loaded the bases with nobody out. After falling behind to Noelvi Marte, he called over to the dugout and switched his shoes, and after that he retired the next three batters to close out the save in the wardrobe change seen ‘round the world.
The Mets fell on Saturday, dropping the middle game of the series 6-3 in Jonah Tong’s second major league start. The offense could not quite provide the comical amount of runs they did in Tong’s debut, and the young right-hander surrendered three home runs as the Reds were ready for his fastball. Beyond a Jared Young home run, the offense did not do much for the rookie in this one, as Cincinnati evened up the series.
The three-game set concluded on Sunday with a 3-2 loss. Brandon Sproat was solid in his major league debut, carrying a no-hitter into the sixth inning before allowing the go-ahead runs to score on three straight hits. Hunter Greene of the Reds, unfortunately, was just better, striking out 12 over seven one-hit innings, with the lone Mets run coming on a Brett Baty solo shot. The Mets finally got their second hit of the game in the ninth inning, when Juan Soto hit a laser beam homer over the right center wall to draw New York to within one, and they would get the next two batters on base to make things interesting. However, Starling Marte hit into a double play to end the comeback attempt.
In addition to taking the series, the Reds also secured the tiebreaker over the Mets, which adds another complication to the Amazins’ quest for a postseason berth. With the Giants dropping two of three to the Cardinals and the Diamondbacks taking two of three from the Red Sox, paired with the result of the Mets/Reds series, New York maintains a four-game lead on Cincinnati while also leading San Francisco (72-71) by four games. Meanwhile, both Arizona and St. Louis are tied with a .500 record (72-72) and reside 4.5 games back of New York. The Mets own the tiebreaker over the Giants and Cardinals by season series results, while the Mets and Diamondbacks each won three games against the other and will have their tiebreaker determined by their records against their respective divisions.
The Phillies enter this series after taking two of three from the scuffling Marlins. They took the first two games but saw their comeback attempt on Sunday in Miami fall short. Since losing three games at Citi Field, they took three of four from the Braves, two of three from the Brewers, and two of three from the Marlins, which has helped them build that seven-game lead in the division. They are looking for their second consecutive NL East title after not winning a division between 2012 and 2023.
Monday, September 8: Nolan McLean vs. Aaron Nola, 6:45 PM EDT on SNY
McLean (2025): 26.1 IP, 28 K, 7 BB, 1 HR, 1.37 ERA, 2.42 FIP, 33 ERA-
McLean kept on truckin’, recording a quality start for the third straight outing and winning his fourth game in as many tries at the major league level. He allowed two earned runs on three hits, with seven strikeouts and three walks over six innings against the Tigers. In his start against the Phillies on August 27, he pitched eight shutout frames, scattering four hits while striking out six. It will be interesting to see how he does in his second time facing an opponent in the majors.
Nola (2025): 69.0 IP, 72 K, 23 BB, 15 HR, 6.78 ERA, 5.05 FIP, 157 ERA-
It’s mostly been a lost year for Nola, who has underperformed for much of the year and missed over two months with a stress reaction in his right rib cage. Prior to his injury, he owned a 6.16 ERA over nine starts and lose seven of those nine starts. He was shut down on June 10 and returned on August 17, and has posted an 8.38 ERA and 5.00 FIP in his four starts since being activated from the IL. He has won two of those four games but has continued struggling. In his last outing against the Brewers, he was tagged for six earned runs on six hits over five innings.
Tuesday, September 9: Sean Manaea vs. Ranger Suárez, 6:45 PM EDT on SNY
Manaea (2025): 45.0 IP, 59 K, 9 BB, 8 HR, 5.60 ERA, 3.83 FIP, 137 ERA-
Manaea endured another bad outing against the Tigers his last time out, allowing five earned runs on a season-high eight hits over 3 2/3 innings. After not allowing a home run in his last two starts, he surrendered two homers and has now allowed eight home runs over 45 innings. His 1.73 HR/9 is the tenth-worst among NL starting pitchers since July 13, and would represent the highest of his career, although he is also trending towards a career-best in K/9 (11.80). With Kodai Senga in Triple-A, his performance will be heavily scrutinized from here on out, and he could be the next one losing his spot if his performance doesn’t improve.
Suárez (2025): 137.0 IP, 128 K, 32 BB, 10 HR, 2.89 ERA, 3.05 FIP, 67 ERA-
Suárez is enjoying one of his best stretches of the year. Over his last four starts, he has posted a 1.09 ERA, a 1.96 FIP, and a 1.05 WHIP in 24 2/3 innings. He was named NL Player of the Week at one point during that stretch and has recaptured his strong performance from early in the year. His last time out, he picked up his 11th victory of 2025 by shutting out the Brewers over six innings. This will somehow be his first start against the Mets this season, though he owns a 3.64 ERA in 53 2/3 innings against New York in his career.
Wednesday, September 10: Clay Holmes vs. Christopher Sánchez, 6:45 PM EDT on SNY
Holmes (2025): 147.0 IP, 117 K, 59 BB, 12 HR, 3.61 ERA, 4.04 FIP, 88 ERA-
Holmes could not escape the fifth inning in his last start, as two walks in the fifth led to his removal. Gregory Soto came in and subsequently threw a wild pitch before a two-run single, both of which were charged to Holmes. The final line on the right-hander was three runs (two earned) on five hits, with six strikeouts and three walks. For a while, Holmes’ spot in the rotation was in jeopardy, but Holmes has been fairly reliable, and he at least can be trusted on to keep the game close even if he is not likely to pitch beyond five innings most times. And despite his struggles, this will be his 29th start this year, which is impressive for a life-long reliever making this late-career transition.
Sánchez (2025): 176.1 IP, 186 K, 42 BB, 10 HR, 2.60 ERA, 2.58 FIP, 60 ERA-
Sánchez endured one of his worst starts of the year against the Mets back on August 25, as he was tagged for a season-high six earned runs over 5 1/3 innings. since then, he’s gotten back on track, posting back-to-back seven inning starts. Against the Braves on August 30, he allowed one earned run on seven hits, with eight strikeouts and no walks as he settled for a no decision. Then on September 5, he allowed one earned run on six hits, with five strikeouts and one walk against the Marlins. For his efforts, he earned his 12th win of 2025.
Thursday, September 11: David Peterson vs. Jesús Luzardo, 7:15 PM EDT on FOX
Peterson (2025): 157.1 IP, 140 K, 59 BB, 9 HR, 3.72 ERA, 3.34 FIP, 91 ERA-
Peterson bounced back a bit after his worst start of the year, though it still wasn’t his best work. He was able to beat the Reds as he allowed four earned runs on seven hits over 5 1/3 innings. He was aided by his offense early and an incredible Houdini act by Díaz in the ninth, which preserved his win. He ran into trouble in the fourth, which is where he allowed most of the runs against him. His last few starts will be critical as the team hopes to remain in postseason position, and could determine his role in the playoff rotation should the team weather this late-season storm.
Luzardo (2025): 155.2 IP, 182 K, 52 BB, 14 HR, 4.05 ERA, 3.03 FIP, 93 ERA-
Like Sánchez, Luzardo had a rough outing against the Mets. Back on August 26, he lasted just four innings and allowed four earned runs on five hits, with five strikeouts and three walks. Like Sánchez, he bounced back in a big way against the Braves. He followed up that game against the Mets by shutting out Atlanta over 6 2/3 innings. He allowed just two hits, walked one batter, and struck out seven. Unfortunately, he had to settle for a no decision.
