11
4:10 PM Showdown: Marlins vs Mets Live Chat Is OPEN
Mets vs. Marlins: Saturday Afternoon Showdown at Citi Field
Everything You Need to Know Before First Pitch
Game Details at a Glance
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Date & Time | Saturday, August 1, 2026 • 4:10 PM |
| Location | Citi Field • Flushing, NY |
| Starting Pitchers | Mets: LHP Zac Thornton (2–1, 2.43 ERA) Marlins: RHP Tyler Phillips (2–5, 3.52 ERA) |
| TV Broadcast | SNY |
| Series Situation | Marlins won Friday. Mets must win today AND tomorrow to take the series. |
Quick ELI5: A "series" is a set of games played back-to-back between the same two teams. Winning the series means winning more games than the other team in that set.
What Happened Yesterday?
- The Marlins beat the Mets on Friday night.
- Freddy Peralta (a Mets pitcher) was scratched (removed) from his scheduled start just hours before the game because he might be traded to another team before the trade deadline.
- The Mets only used one reliever (Curry) in the bullpen, saving their other relievers in case they get traded this weekend.
- Expect the same "protect the trade chips" strategy today.
What’s a "scratch"?
When a pitcher is taken out of the starting lineup before the game, usually due to injury, rest, or—as in this case—trade rumors.
Mets Starting Lineup (Batting Order)
| # | Player | Position |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | A.J. Ewing | Left Field (LF) |
| 2 | Francisco Lindor | Shortstop (SS) |
| 3 | Bo Bichette | Designated Hitter (DH) |
| 4 | Carson Benge | Right Field (RF) |
| 5 | Jared Young | First Base (1B) |
| 6 | Marcus Semien | Second Base (2B) |
| 7 | Brett Baty | Third Base (3B) |
| 8 | Tyrone Taylor | Left Field (LF) |
| 9 | Luis Torrens | Catcher (C) |
ELI5: What’s a DH?
The Designated Hitter bats in place of the pitcher. Since pitchers usually aren’t good hitters, the DH lets a strong hitter take their spot in the lineup.
Mets Starting Pitcher: Zac Thornton
Stats This Season (5 starts, 29⅔ innings):
- ERA: 2.43 (Lower is better — like a golf score!)
- FIP: 3.20 (Fielding Independent Pitching — how well he pitches without relying on defense)
- WHIP: 0.910 (Walks + Hits per Inning Pitched — under 1.00 is elite!)
- ERA+: 173 (100 is average; 173 means 73% better than league average)
Recent Form:
- Started July with two straight scoreless starts (13 innings total).
- Last start: 6⅓ innings, 3 runs, 5 strikeouts vs. Braves.
- First time facing the Marlins — no Marlins batter has seen him in the majors.
Simple Stat Guide:
- ERA = Earned Run Average → How many runs a pitcher gives up per 9 innings.
- WHIP = Baserunners allowed per inning. Under 1.00 = amazing.
- FIP = Focuses only on what the pitcher controls: strikeouts, walks, homers.
Marlins Starting Lineup
| # | Player | Position |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Otto Lopez | Shortstop (SS) |
| 2 | Heriberto Hernández | Left Field (LF) |
| 3 | Liam Hicks | Catcher (C) |
| 4 | Xavier Edwards | Second Base (2B) |
| 5 | Leo Jiménez | Third Base (3B) |
| 6 | Kyle Stowers | First Base (1B) |
| 7 | Javier Sanoja | Right Field (RF) |
| 8 | Esteury Ruiz | Center Field (CF) |
| 9 | Griffin Conine | Designated Hitter (DH) |
Marlins Starting Pitcher: Tyler Phillips
Season Stats (27 games, 11 starts, 84⅓ innings):
- ERA: 3.52
- FIP: 4.60
- WHIP: 1.364
- ERA+: 114 (14% better than average)
Since Joining Rotation (Mid-June):
- 41 innings, 5.05 ERA, 5.63 FIP — struggling a bit.
- Last 2 starts: 9⅓ innings, 4 earned runs (3.86 ERA) — trending up.
Vs. Mets This Year:
- 2 games, 8⅔ innings, 3 runs allowed.
Mets Batters vs. Tyler Phillips (Career)
| Batter | At-Bats | Hits | Extra Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Francisco Alvarez | 1 | 0 | — |
| Brett Baty | 4 | 1 | 2 strikeouts |
| Carson Benge | 5 | 2 | 1 double, 2 Ks |
| Bo Bichette | 6 | 1 | 1 K |
| A.J. Ewing | 4 | 1 | — |
| Francisco Lindor | 3 | 1 | — |
| Jorge Polanco | 1 | 1 | 1 double |
| Marcus Semien | 4 | 2 | 1 double |
| Tyrone Taylor | 1 | 1 | 1 walk |
| Luis Torrens | 2 | 0 | — |
| Jared Young | 2 | 1 | 1 K |
Good signs: Benge, Semien, and Taylor have hit him well.
Watch out: Baty and Torrens have struggled.
Game Notes & Context
Luke Weaver = Bullpen Wizard
- Scoreless 8th inning in Wednesday’s doubleheader Game 1.
- 12.1 scoreless innings in last 11 Citi Field appearances.
- Only reliever in MLB with 1 earned run allowed in 31 innings since May 1 (27 of 29 outings scoreless).
Mets Starters Are Rolling
- 6 quality starts in last 8 games.
- 8 quality starts since All-Star Break — tied for most in MLB.
- 3.00 ERA since Break — 2nd best in NL, 3rd in MLB.
What’s a Quality Start?
Starter goes at least 6 innings and allows 3 or fewer earned runs.
Home Struggles
- 4–2 in last 6 home games (good!).
- But 7–14 in last 21 at Citi Field after starting 18–18.
- Overall home record: 25–32.
- Team batting at home: .234/.311/.384 (below average).
Three Things to Watch Today
1. Francisco Lindor — Chasing History
- Went 2-for-3 with a HR + walk Friday.
- 1 HR away from 10 on the year — done every full season except 2020 (COVID).
- Since July 19: .333/.444/.689 with 4 HR in 12 games.
2. Carson Benge — Rising Star
- 4-game hit streak: 7-for-15, 2 doubles, 1 stolen base.
- Since July 1: .302/.371/.430 in 23 games.
- Him and A.J. Ewing = bright spots of 2026.
3. Jonathan Pintaro — The "Innings Eater"
- Recalled after Cionel Pérez hit the IL.
- Job this weekend: Pitch multiple innings so trade-candidate relievers stay fresh.
- This year: 5 games, 12⅓ IP, 5.11 ERA, 3 HR allowed.
- Twice threw 3+ innings, 4 of 5 games > 40 pitches.
He gives up homers — but he eats innings. That’s his role right now.
Summary
- Mets need a win to keep series hopes alive.
- Zac Thornton has been dominant — great matchup vs. a Marlins lineup that’s never seen him.
- Tyler Phillips has been shaky lately, but Mets have mixed history vs. him.
- Bullpen management is key — Mets protecting trade pieces.
- Watch Lindor, Benge, and Pintaro for storyline fuel.
FAQ
Q: Why was Freddy Peralta scratched?
A: He’s involved in trade talks and the Mets didn’t want him pitching (and risking injury) before a possible deal.
Q: What does "protecting trade chips" mean?
A: Not using certain relievers so they stay healthy and attractive to other teams before the trade deadline.
Q: Is Zac Thornton a rookie?
A: He has only 5 career starts — so yes, very new. But he’s pitched like a vet so far.
Q: Why does Jonathan Pintaro allow so many homers?
A: He’s a fly-ball pitcher in a hitter-friendly era. His low WHIP (0.73) shows he limits baserunners — but when they hit it, it goes far.
Q: Can the Mets still make the playoffs?
A: That’s a long shot — but winning series like this builds momentum for 2027.
Let’s Go Mets!
First pitch: 4:10 PM on SNY. Grab a snack, settle in, and enjoy the game.
