With strange scheduling quirk, NY Mets must be prepared for Phillies' adjustments
PHILADELPHIA — The Mets' second trip to Citizens Bank Park figures to be a game of cat and mouse.
The scheduling powers have put the Mets in a unique situation as they will face the Phillies for the third time in less than a months time.
There will be no secrets as the Mets look to get back on track after splitting their first series of the season against the Braves earlier this week. The Mets had after won their first seven series to start the season, including a pair against the Phillies.
"Who’s at an advantage? I don’t think it’s clear-cut. With the way advanced scouting and video (is), there’s no secrets. Everybody knows," Buck Showalter said. "The tough part is if a guy has a tough outing the outing before, he’s not going to feature that same arsenal and sequencing. You can’t go by that. The good ones when they have a really good outing, sometimes they change their approach according to your lineup too."
The Mets, who entered Thursday's game having taken four out of six games from the Phillies, have had mixed results against their NL East rival's weekend starters.
The Mets will look to get over the hump against Kyle Gibson, who held them to one run in 4⅔ innings on April 30, during Friday's game.
They teed off on Saturday starter Zach Eflin for five earned runs on eight hits on May 1. And they ran Ranger Suarez, Sunday's starter from the game, after 2⅔ innings during the second series of the season in early April.
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With some familiarity against each pitcher, Showalter said that the Mets can adjust their preparation for the series.
"I actually give them some time to talk about some other things that we might want to sure up or something," Showalter said. "It might be something as simple as the foul ground here or the fence structure or where the ball caroms, just little things that you should take more time on.
"There’s X number of minutes you’ve got in there before you lose the effect. I want our advanced meetings to be something they look forward to."
Chris Bassitt and Carlos Carrasco, who will start Saturday and Sunday, respectively, will be facing the Phillies for the first time this season. Max Scherzer, who takes the ball Friday, has faced the Phillies twice this season, winning each time out.
The Phillies will feel fortunate to avoid Tylor Megill, who kicked off the Mets' second no-hitter in franchise history with five clean innings against the Phils last Friday.
Back in the box
Francisco Lindor stormed out of the gate in the month of April but has taken a back seat offensively early in May.
After collecting 24 hits in 82 at-bats (.282) in the season's opening month with four home runs, 12 runs and 14 RBI, the Mets shortstop went 0-for-14 in the team's series against the Braves.
But Showalter is not worried about his star.
"He’s such a talented young man that we know what he’s capable of," Showalter said. "When it doesn’t happen every at-bat, you’re almost a victim of your skillset. He does so many things for us. Sometimes it’s not always exactly like it’s gonna be.
"I think sometimes you want something too much. He’s one of those guys where his ‘want-to’ is way out there."
A series against the Phillies could be just what the doctor ordered for Lindor. In the first six games against the Phillies, Lindor collected seven hits with four RBI and two runs.
Stability in the bullpen
Showalter is still sorting through each of his high leverage options out of the bullpen.
Trevor May's right arm injury, which will sideline him until at least June, puts an even further squeeze on the Mets relievers.
Drew Smith has emerged as the team's best option late in games as he has gone 11⅓ scoreless innings with 15 strikeouts to start the year. Seth Lugo has not given up a run in his last six outings prior to Thursday's game.
Offseason addition Adam Ottavino has been hot and cold. After striking out five batters across two innings to open the series against the Braves, he was shelled in his third straight outing for three earned runs on two hits and one walk on Friday.
In May's absence, the Mets recalled Adonis Medina from Triple-A Syracuse. Medina struck out the side against the Diamondbacks in his lone outing of the season on April 23.
Andrew Tredinnick is the Mets beat writer for NorthJersey.com. For unlimited access to all Mets analysis, news, trades and more, please subscribe today and download our app.
Email: atredinnick@gannett.com Twitter: @andrew_tred
This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: NY Mets vs. Philadelphia Phillies: Schedule quirk for series
