The New York Mets return home to Citi Field looking to disrupt the playoff momentum of the Philadelphia Phillies while finding answers for their own inconsistent play during the dog days of August. The Mets, hovering below .500, have been a frustrating team to assess this season—capable of brief surges of promise only to be undercut by untimely injuries, underperforming veterans, and bullpen lapses. Still, with young arms getting extended looks and a core group of hitters eager to prove their value, there’s still something to be salvaged, particularly in spoiler mode against division rivals. Kodai Senga is likely to get the ball for New York, and despite a season marked by injuries and fluctuating control, the Japanese right-hander continues to show flashes of the dominant movement and deception that made him one of the more intriguing arms in the league. His forkball remains his go-to weapon, particularly effective against lefties, but he’ll need to avoid long innings and improve his first-pitch strike rate if the Mets are to compete deep into the game. The Mets’ bullpen, once considered a strength, has had difficulty maintaining leads, with blown saves and high walk rates plaguing late-inning stability. Offensively, the team still relies on Pete Alonso’s power and Francisco Lindor’s all-around skill, but their supporting cast has been wildly inconsistent. Jeff McNeil has struggled to match last season’s contact-heavy success, and Brandon Nimmo’s production, while solid, hasn’t always translated into timely offense. Rookie Brett Baty remains a work in progress at third base, both at the plate and in the field, though he’s shown promise with key hits against left-handed pitching.

The Mets’ biggest issue has been stringing hits together and capitalizing with runners in scoring position, an area where they rank among the league’s worst. However, they’ve played surprisingly well at home in recent weeks, covering the run line in five of their last seven games at Citi Field, especially as underdogs. The Mets also tend to perform better in low-scoring, tightly contested games, where their situational hitting and small-ball tactics can occasionally outshine their flaws. Manager Carlos Mendoza continues to experiment with lineup combinations, looking to spark a team that too often finds itself trailing early. In divisional games like this, the Mets have shown a grittier edge, occasionally rising to the moment against more talented opponents with better records. Although their playoff hopes have effectively faded, their role as disruptors is not to be dismissed, and they would relish the chance to make the Phillies’ road to October more complicated. If Senga can deliver five strong innings and the bullpen avoids self-inflicted damage, New York’s offense may only need to scratch out three or four runs to put pressure on Philadelphia. In a game where pride, rivalry, and next-year auditions all converge, the Mets still have every reason to play with urgency in front of a home crowd looking for signs of hope in a challenging season.