Mets vs Phillies Preview: Ghost Fork Meets Deep Pen in Week 65

The Mets just beat the Phillies 6-4 yesterday, and New York's rolling right now with a two-game winning streak. Juan Soto went absolutely nuclear—he blasted two home runs that rocketed over the wall. The Mets' lineup is clicking, and they want to keep this energy going. But Philadelphia's not done yet. The Phillies are sitting at 40-35 and hungry to bounce back at home. They've lost their last two, and Citizens Bank Park is their fortress. This is the second game of the series, and the Phillies want to even things up before it's too late.

Freddy Peralta is the Mets' starting pitcher for tonight, and he's an All-Star who knows how to strike guys out. His ERA sits at 6.19 this season, which isn't where he wants it, but he's got the stuff to dominate. Peralta is facing the Phillies' Cristopher Sánchez, who's been much sharper this year. Sánchez has a 2.97 ERA and has struck out 23 batters. He was also an All-Star in 2024. This pitching matchup is electric. Two guys who know how to get outs going head-to-head on Saturday night.

The Mets are fighting back from injuries that've stalled their season. Francisco Lindor, their star shortstop, is returning soon from a calf strain and will begin rehab games on Friday. Luis Robert Jr. also had back issues keeping him out, but he's getting better. The team is banged up, but guys are working their way back. The Phillies have injury problems too—Trea Turner got hit by a pitch but bounced back quickly. Both teams are dealing with missing pieces. Tonight's game could show us who's got the depth to win when things get tough.