NEW YORK METS NOTES:
METSCELLANEOUS: The Mets enjoyed a day off yesterday…On Wednesday, the Mets fell to the Astros, 10-8…The Mets continue their seven-day, six-game road trip (1-2) to Houston (1-2) and Philadelphia (three games)… Following this series, the Mets return to New York for the start of a seven-game homestand against the Brewers (four games) and Giants (three games).
THE BIG APPLE TV+: Tonight’s game against the Philadelphia Phillies will be aired exclusively on Apple TV+…Fans can access the game by using the Apple TV app or by visiting tv.apple.com.
TOWER OF LONDON: Major League Baseball today announced that the Mets and Phillies will play a two-game series in London on June 8-9, 2024… It will mark New York’s fourth international trip, having previously played in Mexico, Japan and Puerto Rico.
STEAL THIS BASE: The Mets have stole a franchise-record 30 consecutive bases without being caught…The last time a Mets player was thrown out attempting a stolen base was on May 10 (Francisco Lindor at second)…The Mets are first in the major leagues with an 90.3% stolen base success rate this season…Starling Marte has swiped 20 bags this year, tied for sixth in the majors and tied for third in the National League…His 334 career stolen bases rank second among active players…Elvis Andrus is the active leader with 341 steals.
KEEP THE CAR RUNNING: The Mets are 5-10 when both teams score six or more runs this year…They are 3-6 when both score seven or more runs and 2-3 when they both score 8 or more runs.
SENGA GENESIS: Kodai Senga has recorded 87 strikeouts through his first 13 career major league games, that is the fourth-most by a Mets pitcher in franchise history…Only Dwight Gooden (96), Matt Harvey (95) and Nolan Ryan (91) recorded more in their first 12 career starts…His 87 strikeouts are the fourth-most by a Japanese born pitcher through 13 career games…He trails only Hideo Nomo (119), Masahiro Tanaka (103) and Yu Darvish (88).
NIFTY FIFTY: Pete Alonso and Francisco Lindor have each recorded 51 RBI this year, which is tied for the third most in the National League…The Mets are one of four teams in the majors with two players who have each recorded at least 50 RBI…They join the Braves (Ozzie Albies – 53 and Matt Olson – 52) as the only other team in the National League.
GUESS WHO’S BACH?: Over the last five games, Daniel Vogelbach has batted .412 (7-17) with four runs, one double, two home runs, seven RBI, one walks with a 1.268 OPS…His .354 OBP is second on the team, behind only Brandon Nimmo’s .373.
CANHA GUY GET SOME BROTHERLY LOVE?: Mark Canha has 11 RBI in his last three games against the Phillies and has driven in the game-winning run in all three contests…Only two players since 1950 have had more in a three-game span vs. the Phils: Atlanta’s Jeff Blauser in 1991 and San Francisco’s Willie McCovey in 1969 (12 RBI each)…In those three games, Canha has gone 6-10 with four home runs…All four home runs either tied the game or gave the Mets the lead…Overall, Canha is hitting .296/.426/.463 over his last 20 games, going 16-54 with three doubles, two homers, 12 RBI, eight runs scored and 10 walks…Canha’s .426 OBP ranks sixth among the 259 players with 65 or more PA since May 21.
PHILADELPHIA FREEDOM-INATION: Eduardo Escobar has 27 RBI in 109 career at-bats spanning 32 games against Philadelphia…His 4.04 AB/RBI ratio vs. the club ranks 11th all-time and fourth since the end of World War II (1945).
TAKE IT TO THE BANK: Starling Marte has appeared in 35 career games at Citizens Bank Park and has hit .399 (55-138) with 28 runs, 17 doubles, five home runs, 18 RBI with a .454 OBP and a .630 SLG…He has reached base safely in 15 straight games at the ballpark…He has hit .452 (28-62) with 17 runs, eight doubles, two home runs, nine RBI, three walks with a 1.170 OPS in the streak that dates to June 30, 2021.
IF YOU START ME OFF: New York is 20-2 when their starter goes at least 6.0 innings…The Mets are 8-1 when the starter goes at least 7.0 innings.
THE EAST IS A BEAST: The Mets are 12-11 against the NL East this season…. They have posted a 4.26 ERA and are hitting .240/.324/.383.
FOR PETE’S SAKE: Despite missing 10 games, Pete Alonso’s 23 home runs this year, leads the National League and rank second in the majors to Shohei Ohtani (24)…Alonso has 51 RBI, tying for him for third in the National League.
GIRL DAD POWER: Over the last 15 games, Francisco Lindor has posted a .970 OPS, going 11-46 with 11 runs, four doubles, four home runs, 11 RBI, 11 walks, four steals with a .383 OBP and a .587 SLG…He has posted a 2.2 fWAR this year, which ranks 12th in the National League…His 33 extra-base hits are tied for the eighth most in the National League.
ON THE ROAD AGAIN: The team has played 42 games on the road this year, tied for the second-most in the majors and tied for the second-most in the National League…New York is 17-25 away from Citi Field in 2023.
PHAM-TASTIC: Tommy Pham has safely hit in seven straight and 12 of his last 13 games…He is batting .370 (10-27) with five runs, two doubles, one home run, six RBI, three walks, two steals with a .989 OPS over the hitting streak…Over the last 13 games, Pham is batting .314 (16-51) with nine runs, six doubles, two home runs, 12 RBI, four walks, three steals with a .906 OPS… Since May 17, Pham is batting .325 (25-77) with 13 runs, eight doubles, one triple, four home runs, 19 RBI, eight walks, six steals with a .994 OPS in 24 games.
WHEN YOU’RE IN SCORING POSITION, YOU’RE PHAMILY: Tommy Pham leads the Mets with a .343 (12-35) average with runners in scoring position… Since May 18, has 10 hits in 19 at-bats with RISP…He leads the NL in average (.526), OBP (.583), slugging percentage (1.105) and OPS (1.689) with RISP over that timeframe.
ROAD WARRIOR: Brandon Nimmo is batting .311 (51-164) with 22 runs, eight doubles, three triples, three home runs, 22 RBI, 23 walks with a .399 OBP and a.451 SLG OPS in 42 road games this year…That compares to a .233/.336/.388 slashline with nine extra-base hits and 10 RBI in 30 games at Citi Field in 2023.
A CENTURY: New York’s pitching staff has allowed 104 home runs, the second-most in the NL and the third-most in the majors…The Mets allowed a total of 169 home runs in 2022.
FIRST IS THE BEST: The Mets are 21-8 (.724) when scoring first this season… On the other hand, the Mets are 13-32 (.289) when their opponent scores first.
FIRST IS THE WORST: The Mets have been outscored 54-21 in the first inning this year…New York has posted a 6.20 ERA (51 ER/74.0 IP) in the first inning this season.
DR. ROBERTSON: David Robertson has posted a 2-1 record with a 1.72 ERA (6 ER/31.1 IP) in 28 appearances this season…He has walked eight, while striking out 40…He ranks fourth in the NL in ERA among relievers and tied for 15th with 40 punchouts…He is holding left-handed hitters to a .161 (10-62) average this year.
HIP, HIP, HOME RUN: The Mets have homered in 28 of their last 32 games, socking 47 bombs in that span…The Mets are tied for sixth in the National League with 88 blasts this season.
THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS: Francisco Alvarez has hit 12 home runs this season…That is the third-most by a rookie in the majors and the second-most in the National League…10 of his home runs have come as a catcher… Only one other rookie catcher in Mets history have had more homers in a season…Travis d’Arnaud (12) holds the club mark for home runs by a rookie catcher in 2014.
STARTING PITCHER – KODAI SENGA RHP #34
2023 STATS: 6-4, 3.53 ERA
SENGA’S PITCH ARSENAL
Pitch Type Usage Rate vs. LHB vs. RHB Avg. Velocity
Four-Seam Fastball 41.0% 43.5% 38.6% 95.9 mph
Forkball 22.3% 22.1% 22.4% 83.7 mph
Cutter 21.3% 24.5% 18.2% 90.4 mph
Sweeper 10.1% 5.5% 14.6% 81.8 mph
Slider 4.1% 2.6% 5.5% 84.9 mph
Curveball 1.3% 1.8% 0.8% 71.7 mph
LAST TIME OUT: Threw 6.2 innings, allowing four runs on five hits in the Mets 5-3 loss to the Cardinals on June 17…Recorded just one walk and eight strikeouts, marking his fourth start with eight or more strikeouts.
STRIKE ‘EM OUT: Has 87 strikeouts this season to lead all major league rookies…Are the fourth-most by a Met through their first 13 career game behind Dwight Gooden (96), Matt Harvey (95) and Nolan Ryan (91)…Are the fourth-most by a Japanese-born pitcher through their first 13 games trailing only Hideo Nomo (119), Masahiro Tanaka (103) and Yu Darvish (88).
SHUT ‘EM OUT: On May 30 against the Phillies, Senga became the 10th rookie in franchise history to throw 7.0 or more innings, while one hit or less and was the first Met since Steven Matz did so on August 14, 2016…Joins Jonathon Niese, who tossed a complete game shutout on June 10, 2010, as the only Mets rookie to accomplish the feat without allowing a walk.
PUTTING THE K IN FORK: Senga’s “ghost fork” has accounted for 48 of his 87 strikeouts through 13 starts…The pitch has a 58.1 percent whiff rate and a 28.1 percent putaway rate… Opponents have managed just eight hits in 70 at-bats ending with the forkball, a .114 batting average.
ALL I DO IS WIN: Senga became the only Japanese-born pitchers to start their career 3-0 and is the fourth player in franchise history to earn the win in their first two career major league starts, joining Steven Matz, Mike Pelfrey and Gary Gentry…Additionally, he joins Kazuhisa Ishii, Hideki Irabu and Koji Uehara as the only Japanese-born pitchers to win each of their first two career major league starts…Senga fell just shy of becoming the second Mets starting pitcher ever to begin his career 4-0, a record held by Steven Matz.
PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES NOTES:
GAME #74 RECAP: The Phillies fell to the Atlanta Braves, 5-1, at CBP in South Philly … Starter Aaron Nola tossed 6.0 scoreless innings and allowed only 2 hits with 2 walks and 5 strikeouts … The game was scoreless into extra innings before the Braves plated 5 runs in the top of the 10th on 3 hits and a Kyle Schwarber errorr in left field … The Phillies scored a run in the bottom of the frame to avoid a shutout.
STAFF NOTES: Over the last turn through the rotation (6/16-current), Philadelphia’s starting staff has allowed only 2 ER in 30.0 IP (0.60 ERA) … Over their last 100.0 innings pitched (17 G, since 6/3), Philadelphia’s starting staff has combined to post a 1.62 ERA (18 ER, 100.0 IP) with 105 strikeouts to 26 walks … The rotation has faced 387 batters in this stretch (since 6/3) and limited them to a .177 AVG and .505 OPS … Phillies starters have gone at least 7.0 innings in six of those 17 games and at least 6.0 innings in 13 of 17 – further, they have allowed 1 run or none in 13 of those 17 games and 0 runs in seven of those 17 … Philadelphia’s 1.62 ERA by the starters is their lowest in a span of 17 games since May 14-31, 1964 (1.60 ERA)… The Phils rotation leads the National League in fWAR this season at 8.6 (next: MIA, 7.2) and ranks 2nd in MLB behind only MIN (8.7).
THE VIBES ARE BACK: This season, the Phillies were seven games under .500 at 25-32 (.439 win %) when they entered play on June 3, which was also the one-year anniversary of Rob Thomson’s first game as Phillies manager … Since then, they have gone 13-4 (.765 win %) with a +27-run differential (86-59) and sit two games over .500 at 38-36 … When Thomson took over last year on June 3, the Phillies were also seven games under .500 at 22-29 (.431 win %), and in their first 17 games with him as manager (6/3- 18/22), they went 14-3 (.824 win %) with a +35-run differential (102-67) … Since Thomson was hired on June 3, 2022, the Phillies are 103-82 and their .557 winning percentage is 3rd-best in the National League, behind only ATL (.674) and LAD (.638) and 9th-best in MLB.
I’M GIVING IT MY ALL: The Phillies have won five of their last six series (since 6/3: 2-1 at WSH, 3-0 vs DET, 2-1 vs LAD, 3-1 at ARI, 3-0 at OAK, 0-2 vs ATL) … Over the last three seasons (2021-23), the Phillies are 44-26 in the month of June and their .629 winning percentage ranks 3rd among all MLB clubs behind only ATL (.671) and BOS (.653) … Over the last two seasons (since 2022), the Phillies are 32-14 in June and their .696 winning % ranks 2nd in MLB, trailing only ATL (.800).
BEDLAM AT THE BANK: The Phils are 19-13 in 32 games at Citizens Bank Park this year and their .594 winning percentage at home ranks T-7th in MLB (with TOR) and 4th in the NL, behind ATL (.615), LAD (.611) and MIA (.605) … Philadelphia’s 32 games at home this year are tied for the fewest of any club in baseball with the Mets and Blue Jays (most: MIN, 42 G played at home) … Through 32 games at CBP, the Phillies are averaging 39,193 in attendance per game which ranks 5th among all clubs in MLB behind only the Dodgers (48,025), Yankees (40,476), Cardinals (40,324) and Padres (39,730) … Of Philadelphia’s first 32 games at home, 16 have been sellouts (50%) and 23 have been over 35,000 (72%) … Among all clubs in MLB, the Phillies have the largest year-to-year increase in attendance per game this season at +11,102 (up from 28,091 per game through 32 home games in 2022) … The Blue Jays rank 2nd behind the Phillies with a 6,254 jump in attendance per game and the Pirates are the closest NL club with a 5,504 spike in attendance per game.
NOTHING BUT RHYS-PECT: Last night, Rhys and Jayme Hoskins hosted the 2nd annual “Go Yard with Rhys Hoskins” to benefit the Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA) … The sold-out event raised over $385,000 for MDA and was attended by many of Hoskins’ teammates and coaches as well as Phillies officials … The money raised last night will accelerate research, advance care and empower MDA families in our community living with muscular dystrophy, ALS and related neuromuscular diseases.
I’VE GOT YOU UNDER MY SKIN: Since the start of last season, the Phillies are 5-17 in 22 games against the Mets (.227 win %, since 4/11/22) – against all other opponents since the start of 2022, the Phillies are 120-94 (.561 win %) … Of those 22 games against the Mets, seven have been one-run games and 11 have been decided by two runs or fewer … Last season, on their way to the 2022 National League pennant, the Phillies went 5-14 (.263 win %) with a -37 run differential against the Mets (63-100) … Against all other teams last year, the Phillies went 82-61 (.573 win%) with a +99 run differential (684-585) … Per Elias, it marked the first time the Phillies were as many games under .500 against one club in a season, but at least 20 games over against all others since 1983, when they went 1-11 against the Dodgers and 89-61 versus all other teams
SAVING GRACE: Right-hander Craig Kimbrel is 10-for-10 in save opportunities this season and he has struck out 47 of the 118 batters he has faced (39.8%) … Yesterday, Kimbrel (1,145 SO) moved into sole possession of 8th place in strikeouts among relievers since at least 1893, passing Francisco Rodriguez (1,142) – Next up is Lindy McDaniel who is in 7th place with 1,164 … On May 26, Kimbrel earned the 400th save of his ML career and became only the eighth player in the history of MLB to reach 400 saves.
TONIGHT’S STARTER – TAIJUAN WALKER • RHP #99
2023: 7-3, 4.31 ERA Career: 61-53, 3.92 ERA
LAST START: 6/16 at OAK: W, 8.0 IP, 7 H, 1 ER, 0 BB, 8 SO … Walker vs Sears… The Phillies took the series opener in Oakland, 6-1 … Kyle Schwarber (#19) belted the 1st pitch of the game over the RF wall to give the Phils the early lead … JT Realmuto (#8) led off the 2nd inning with a solo HR … Alec Bohm (#7) hit a 2-run shot in the 4th and drove in 3 runs on the night.
TONIGHT’S START:
- Pitch Usage: Splitter (35.4%), Sinker (23.9%), 4-Seam (19.8%), Cutter (11.9%), Sweeper (5.6%), Curveball (3.4%).
- Just Friends: Walker faces New York for the second time this season. It’s his first start at home against the club since 7/23/14 while with Seattle. He appeared in 59 games (58 starts) with the Mets during the 2021 and 2022 seasons, going 19-16 with a 3.98 ERA (140 ER, 316.1 IP) and 278 strikeouts.
- Remember This: Walker has won at least 3 straight games for the first time since winning 6 contests over a 9-game stretch from 6/12- 7/31/22. He has allowed just 1 run or less each of those starts, tied for the 2nd-longest such streak of his career (4 G, 5/6-29/21 & 8/21- 9/6/17). He tossed back-to-back scoreless starts of at least 5.0 innings on 6/6 and 6/11 for the first time in his career.
- Summer Baby: Walker’s 2.79 ERA (55 ER, 177.1 IP) in the month of June is his lowest ERA in any month of his career (next, 3.65, April). It is the 5th-lowest mark of any active pitcher (min. 160.0 IP) for June, behind Max Scherzer (2.77), Clayton Kershaw (2.70), Chris Sale (2.55) and Jacob deGrom (2.40).
- That’s Just the Way We Roll: Walker is the 1st Phillies starter to reach 7 wins this season, a mark tied for 8th in the National League. He has recorded at least 7 wins in each of the last 3 seasons since having last reached the mark each year from 2015-17.
- Much Better: Walker has used his splitter 35.4% of the time in 2023, the highest rate of his career (previous: 27.6% in 2022) … He threw his splitter for 46 pitches on 5/7 and 4/9, the most he has ever thrown the pitch in a game in his career (previous: 43 times, 6/2/22 & 8/8/16). 34 of his 66 strikeouts have come via the splitter and his 27.0 strikeout percentage and 27.6 whiff percentage with the pitch are the 6th- and 8th-best marks in the NL, respectively (min. 25 PA).
- Make it Right: In 2023, Walker has held lefties to a .205 (26-127) AVG (15th in NL among starters), compared to .264 (42-159) against righties … Since his debut year, 2013, Walker has limited left-handed batters to a .230 AVG, 10th-best among active right-handed starters during that span (min. 1,500 LHB faced).
- vs NL East: 10-9, 3.77 ERA (82 ER, 195.2 IP) in 38 games (37 starts).
HOME:
- 2023: 3-0, 2.25 ERA (8 ER, 32.0 IP) in 6 starts.
- Career: 27-21, 3.71 ERA (195 ER, 473.1 IP) in 86 games (84 starts).
- CBP: 4-1, 3.54 ERA (22 ER, 56.0 IP) in 11 starts.
2023 SEASON:
- Threw a career-high 14.0 scoreless innings from 6/6-16, surpassing 2 scoreless 13.0-inning stretches from 7/4-16/22 and 6/26-7/7/15 … Completed 8.0 innings on 6/16 for the 1st time since 4/27/17 vs SD while with ARI.
- On 5/21 vs CHI, Walker made his 1st career start on 3 days rest.
- Made his Phillies debut on 4/3 at NYY after signing a 4-year contract with the club in December.
- Pitched for Team Mexico in the 2023 WBC, making 1 start in Pool Play against Great Britain … He threw 4.0 scoreless IP with 2 baserunners allowed and recorded 8 of his 12 outs via strikeout.
