September 18, 2024; New York Metropolis, NY, USA; New York Mets shortstop Luisangel Acuna (2) hits a solo house run within the eighth inning in opposition to the Washington Nationals at Citi Area beat. Obligatory Credit score: Brad Penner-Imagn Pictures The New York Mets improved their possibilities of making the postseason on Saturday and received a glimpse of their doubtlessly brilliant future.
The Mets will attempt to keep atop the race for the ultimate wild-card spot within the Nationwide League once they host the Philadelphia Phillies within the regular-season house finale on Sunday night time.
Tyler Megill (4-5, 4.08 ERA) will begin for the Mets in opposition to right-hander Zach Wheeler (16-6, 2.56).
Francisco Alvarez, 22, and Luisangel Acuna every hit house runs as Mets held off Phillies in a 6-3 win on Saturday Lock down the NFC East.
Alvarez hit a vital two-run double within the seventh inning for the Mets (86-69), who stay two video games forward of the Atlanta Braves in second place within the race for the ultimate NL wild-card spot. Arizona is a wild card to the Diamondbacks.
Alvarez has homered in every of his previous two video games and has 5 homers in his previous 9 video games since Sept. 11.
“He is been working exhausting behind the scenes for months,” Mets supervisor Carlos Mendoza mentioned. “It lastly paid off.”
Acuna, the youthful brother of Braves outfielder and reigning NL MVP Ronald Acuna Jr., has hit 3 in his first eight main league video games since being promoted from Triple-A Syracuse on Sept. 14. house runs, a complete of 23 house runs, and a batting common of .385.
“Acuna’s efficiency was unbelievable,” Mets left fielder Brandon Nimmo mentioned. “I imply, to have a younger man like him are available in and step in like he did — you don’t see that on daily basis.”
The Phillies (92-63) hope they solely have to attend yet another day to clinch the NL East title for the primary time since 2011. Fourth forward of the NL Central Division champion Brewers.
“The most important factor for us is we need to get the division,” Philadelphia’s Kyle Schwarber mentioned. “However, quantity two, we need to hold profitable baseball video games till the tip of the season.”
Megill continued his late-season resurgence final Tuesday night time when he earned the win after permitting six runs in six innings because the Mets defeated the Washington Nationals 10-1. Since being recalled from Syracuse on Aug. 30, he has gone 2-0 with a 1.69 ERA in 4 begins, all wins for New York.
Megill has a 3-1 report with a 2.54 ERA in 5 profession begins in opposition to the Phillies. He began because the beginning pitcher and earned the win on April 29, 2022, when he mixed with 4 relievers to defeat the no-hitter Philadelphia 3-0.
Wheeler was additionally nonetheless sizzling on Tuesday, making his fourth straight begin after a seven-inning loss because the Phillies defeated the Milwaukee Brewers 5-1. He had a 1.38 ERA through the streak.
Wheeler performed for the Mets from 2013 to 2019 and signed with the Phillies in December 2019. The rating is 3.64.
–Scene-level media
