Mets vs Phillies predictions
All eyes will be on Juan Soto as the New York Mets look to extend their lead in the NL East after his electrifying 4-hit outing. Expect Soto to make plenty of noise at Citizens Bank Park, drawing walks and putting pressure on the Phillies’ pitching staff. Pete Alonso is always a threat to go deep and should come through with at least one big extra-base hit, maybe even sending one into the Philadelphia night. Francisco Lindor mixes power and speed and should be right in the middle of any rallies, while Luisangel Acuna and Starling Marte should keep things interesting with their ability to get on base and swipe a bag or two. On the mound, David Peterson looks set to give the Mets a quality start, keeping Philly’s bats in check while racking up a handful of strikeouts.
Looking over at the Philadelphia Phillies, there’s a sense that home-field advantage could give their big bats a spark. Trea Turner has been swinging a hot bat and looks primed for a multi-hit game, especially with his knack for turning singles into scoring chances. Kyle Schwarber’s swing is tailor-made for Citizens Bank Park, so don’t be surprised if he tees off against the Mets’ lefty. Alec Bohm and Nick Castellanos both project to be steady contributors in the lineup, combining for a few timely hits and RBIs to keep the Phillies in the race. And with Jesus Luzardo on the mound, Philadelphia might have the edge in the pitching matchup—he’s capable of wriggling out of tough spots and piling up strikeouts when it counts.
Taking all that into account, this one is shaping up to be a close contest, the kind you don’t want to take your eyes off. But with the way the New York Mets lineup is clicking and Soto setting the tone after his monster outing, I have a hunch they’ll edge out the Phillies and keep their lead atop the NL East. This Mets team just keeps finding ways to win, even in the toughest environments, and tonight shouldn’t be any different. What do you think—are the Mets about to send a message, or does Philly have a little home magic left in the tank?