September 18, 2024; New York City, NY, USA; New York Mets shortstop Luisangel Acuna (2) hits a solo home run in the eighth inning against the Washington Nationals at Citi Field beat. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images The New York Mets improved their chances of making the postseason on Saturday and got a glimpse of their potentially bright future.
The Mets will try to stay atop the race for the final wild-card spot in the National League when they host the Philadelphia Phillies in the regular-season home finale on Sunday night.
Tyler Megill (4-5, 4.08 ERA) will start for the Mets against right-hander Zach Wheeler (16-6, 2.56).
Francisco Alvarez, 22, and Luisangel Acuna each hit home runs as Mets held off Phillies in a 6-3 win on Saturday Lock down the NFC East.
Alvarez hit a crucial two-run double in the seventh inning for the Mets (86-69), who remain two games ahead of the Atlanta Braves and two behind the Atlanta Braves in the race for the final NL wild-card spot. Wild card Arizona team a Diamondbacks.
Alvarez has homered in each of his past two games and has five homers in his past nine games since Sept. 11.
“He's been working hard behind the scenes for months,” Mets manager Carlos Mendoza said. “It finally paid off.”
Acuna, the younger brother of Braves outfielder and reigning NL MVP Ronald Acuna Jr., has hit 3 in his first eight major league games since being promoted from Triple-A Syracuse on Sept. 14. home runs, a total of 23 home runs, and a batting average of .385.
“Acuna's performance was unbelievable,” Mets left fielder Brandon Nimmo said. “I mean, to have a young guy like him come in and step in like he did — you don’t see that every day.”
The Phillies (92-63) hope they only have to wait one more day to clinch the NL East title for the first time since 2011. Fourth ahead of the NL Central Division champion Brewers.
“The biggest thing for us is we want to get the division,” Philadelphia's Kyle Schwarber said. “But, number two, we want to keep winning baseball games until the end of the season.”
Megill continued his late-season resurgence last Tuesday night when he earned the win after allowing six runs in six innings as 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 four starts, all wins for New York.
Megill has started five career games against the Phillies and is 3-1 with a 2.54 ERA. He started as the starting pitcher and earned the win on April 29, 2022, when he combined with four relievers to defeat the no-hitter Philadelphia 3-0.
Wheeler was also still hot on Tuesday, making his fourth straight start after a seven-inning loss as the Phillies defeated the Milwaukee Brewers 5-1. He had a 1.38 ERA during the streak.
Wheeler played for the Mets from 2013 to 2019 and signed with the Phillies in December 2019. The score is 3.64.
–Scene-level media