Saturday, August 1, 2026 • 4:10 PM
Citi Field • Flushing, NY
RHP Tyler Phillips (2-5, 3.52) vs. LHP Zac Thornton (2-1, 2.43)
SNY
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.
Brad Penner-Imagn Images
Mets Lineup
- A.J. Ewing – LF
- Francisco Lindor – SS
- Bo Bichette – DH
- Carson Benge – RF
- Jared Young – 1B
- Marcus Semien – 2B
- Brett Baty – 3B
- Tyrone Taylor – LF
- Luis Torrens – C
Starting Pitcher: Zac Thornton
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 has faced Thornton in a Major League game.
Opposing Lineup
- Otto Lopez – SS
- Heriberto Hernández – LF
- Liam Hicks – C
- Xavier Edwards – 2B
- Leo Jiménez – 3B
- Kyle Stowers – 1B
- Javier Sanoja – RF
- Esteury Ruiz – CF
- Griffin Conine – DH
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
Game Notes
- Luke Weaver fired a scoreless eighth inning in game one of the twinbill on Wednesday. He is unscored upon over his last 11 outings at Citi Field (12.1 IP). Is unscored upon in 27 of his last 29 outings dating back to May 1 (31.0 IP) and has allowed only one earned run during that span. Is the only relief pitcher in the majors to allow one run and pitch at least 25.0 innings since May.
- Mets starters have recorded a quality start in six of their last eight appearances. The rotation’s eight quality starts since the All-Star Break are tied with Kansas City and Chicago-NL for the most in the majors. The staff’s 3.00 ERA (41 ER/123.0 IP) since the All-Star Break is the second-lowest mark in the NL and the third-lowest mark in the majors.
- The Mets have won four of their last six home games. They have gone 7-14 over their last 21 games at Citi Field after starting the season 18-18 at home. They are now 25-32 at home this year. The team has posted a 4.12 ERA, while batting .234/.311/.384 at Citi Field.
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 home run away from 10 on the year, something he has done every year of 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 Jonathan 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!
