Rain postpones Mets-Phillies again; doubleheader scheduled Sunday
PHILADELPHIA — For the second straight day, the Mets game against the Phillies was postponed due to rainy weather.
With a steady shower and winds blowing at 19 mph at Citizens Bank Park, Saturday evening’s matchup was rescheduled as part of a single-admission doubleheader on Sunday. First pitch has been set at 12:35 p.m. with Game 2 beginning about 20-30 minutes after the final out of the first game.
“We’re at their mercy, and rightfully so,” Buck Showalter said of the Phillies’ decision to postpone, which was announced just about two hours before the originally scheduled 4 p.m. first pitch on Saturday. Both teams had already publicly sent out their lineups by then.
The Mets had discussed deviating from their original plan of starting Max Scherzer on Saturday, in the event that the game was not postponed and the players were on the field in the rain. Showalter and other team officials were weighing the injury risks of sending out their ace pitcher in sloppy weather.
Scherzer will instead pitch Sunday with an extra two days of rest. Friday night’s game in Philly was also postponed, rescheduled as a split doubleheader on Aug. 20 at Citizens Bank Park. Scherzer last pitched on May 1 at Citi Field, in a 10-6 win against the Phillies. He carries a 4-0 record into his sixth start of the year.
Chris Bassitt, who pitches behind Scherzer in the rotation, will likely start one of Sunday’s games. Both Bassitt and Scherzer sport an identical 2.61 ERA and 31 innings following their first five starts with their new team.
As of Saturday afternoon, the Mets had not announced whether Scherzer will pitch in Game 1 or 2. Showalter typically prefers to start his veteran pitcher in the second game of a doubleheader. That way, he can use his bullpen if he needs to in Game 1, knowing that his veteran starter is more likely and able to pitch deeper into the game.
“Sometimes a guy sitting around for 5-6 hours and watching the game, certain guys are more equipped than others,” Showalter said. “I always wanted something in reserve too. But let’s face it. Doubleheaders, in a lot of ways, you’re trying to make sure the killer is getting swept, physically and in the L column.”
But because of the unique nature of this weekend’s Mets schedule — rainouts on Friday and Saturday, doubleheader on Sunday, followed by a day off on Monday — Showalter said he has less apprehension than he normally would to use most of his relievers if he needs to in the Sunday doubleheader.
“It’s actually easier to protect a bullpen in a loss than it is in a win in doubleheaders,” Showalter said. “I think that’s what people miss. If you win two games in a doubleheader, you feel good about the wins but you know there’s a price to pay for the next day, which we’ve seen already.”
The Mets (19-9) will play their third doubleheader of the season on Sunday. They have a 4-0 record in those instances this year, having swept the Giants in April and the Braves earlier this week. The Amazin’s carry a 20-10 record in doubleheaders dating back to the start of last season.
ROSTER MOVE
The Mets claimed infielder Gosuke Katoh off waivers from the Blue Jays on Saturday. He was optioned to Triple-A Syracuse.
Katoh, 27, made his major league debut on April 9 with the Blue Jays. In eight games with Toronto, the California native hit .143 (1-for-7) with a double, three walks and a run scored. The 6-1, 200-pound left-handed hitter played at first and second base in those games, as well as appearing as a pinch-runner.
