When is Phillies vs. Mets NLDS Game 4? Date, time and statements

When the Mets won the National League East title in 2015, they did so in Cincinnati. Their subsequent celebrations that year took place in Los Angeles and Chicago, while their playoff victories in ’16 and ’22 came in Philadelphia and Milwaukee, respectively. This year, New York celebrated in Atlanta and then in Milwaukee, but never at home.

Over the years, others have walked around their field and sprayed champagne at the clubhouse they frequent. The Mets would like to take their turn.

“Of course we want to win because it brings us closer to our ultimate goal,” outfielder Starling Marte said through an interpreter. “We want to go out, celebrate and win.”

With their season on the line, the Phillies will turn to left-hander Ranger Suárez, one of the game’s best pitchers in the first half – but one who struggled mightily down the stretch. The Mets will counter with Jose Quintana, whose season has been the opposite of Suárez’s – not so good at first, excellent recently.

If the Phils win, they will force a deciding Game 5 on Friday at Citizens Bank Park. If they lose, they go home for the winter.

“For us as a group, this is as close to death as we’ve ever had,” Phillies outfielder Nick Castellanos said. “So in a way we should feel most alive. We’re not promised until tomorrow.”

Here’s everything you need to know about Game 4:

When does the game take place and how can I watch it?
Game 4 is currently airing on FS1.

All games are available in the US on MLB.TV (requires authentication with a participating pay-TV provider). Live games are also available in select countries outside the US. Detailed information can be found here.

Who are the starting pitchers?
Phillies: LHP Ranger Suarez (12-8, 3.46 ERA)
Suárez was a legitimate NL Cy Young contender for the first two and a half months of the season before a back injury sidelined him. The left-hander posted a 10-1 record with a 1.75 ERA in his first 15 starts before going 0-4 with a 6.67 ERA in his next five appearances. Suárez, a first-time All-Star, skipped the Midsummer Classic to rest his ailing back, but ultimately landed on the injured list after his first start in the second half. Since returning in late August, he has struggled to recapture his early form, posting a 5.74 ERA in seven starts.

Mets: LHP Jose Quintana (10-10, 3.75 ERA)
When asked before Game 4 if this would be the biggest start of his career, Quintana replied, “Yeah, probably.” Cubs fans may consider his appearances in Games 1 and 5 of the 2017 NL Championship Series more significant, but an NLDS Opening in front of a sold-out audience in Queens should be at least at a similar level.

Quintana couldn’t have started better. After finishing the regular season with a 0.74 ERA in his last six starts, Quintana delivered six shutout innings – four more than Mets officials had planned for him – in Wild Card Series Game 3 against the one of the best performances of his career from Brauer. The left-hander will take an extra day of rest for this game to further build on his postseason success. Quintana said: “I think every game is Game 7 for me at this point.”

What are the starting lineups?

Phillies: Even though the Mets were playing a left-handed hitter for the second straight game, Bryson Stott was able to prevail at second base Edmundo Sosa. After Austin Hays – who missed significant time down the stretch – had trouble at the plate in Game 3, Rob Thomson turned to Weston Wilson for the start in left field. Wilson hit .341 with an OPS of 1.026 in 51 plate appearances against left-handed pitchers during the regular season.

Mets: With Suárez on the mound, the Mets switch back to Martinez as DH. He is 2-for-9 lifetime with a double and a walk from the left-hander. While manager Carlos Mendoza has made it clear that his DH decisions are on a matchup basis and not the result of a platoon, the high number of lefties New York has seen so far this postseason has made it a case for Martinez and Jesse Winker something like a platoon situation exists.

How will the bullpens line up after the starter?
Phillies: Everyone will be available – possibly even Zack Wheeler. When asked about Wheeler’s availability following Tuesday’s loss, Thomson didn’t rule out using anyone (other than Game 3 starter Aaron Nola). Given the upcoming season and Suárez’s recent struggles, Thomson also won’t hesitate to go to his bullpen at the first sign of trouble. The Phillies’ bullpen has been a surprising weakness in the NLDS so far, but they will likely lean heavily on Matt Strahm, Jeff Hoffman and Carlos Estévez to take this series to Game 5.

Mets: Sean Manaea’s strong start to Game 3 didn’t quite allow the Mets to rest their best bullpen arms, as Mendoza still leaned on Phil Maton and Ryne Stanek with nine outs and kept Edwin Díaz warm with intensity (though he never entered). Considering how heavily these three pitchers have been used so far this postseason, their availability has become a daily question. It’s also unclear whether Mendoza would use David Peterson for a short substitution in Game 4 or save his upper left-hander for mass work in a possible Game 5.

Any notable injuries?
Phillies: Right-hander Spencer Turnbull hasn’t pitched since late June due to a strained right lat that kept him off the NLDS roster. His recovery has been slow, but he has been improving in recent weeks and there is a chance he could pitch in the postseason if the Phillies advance.

Mets: Jeff McNeil, sidelined since September 6 with a broken right wrist, rejoined the club Sunday morning in Philadelphia and immediately began expanding baseball activities. Neither he nor Mendoza ruled out McNeil’s return for a potential NLCS that would begin next Sunday, but he first needs to see live pitching, which the Mets hope to do in the Arizona Fall League. At the very least, McNeil seems almost a guarantee of being ready for the World Series if the Mets make it that far.

Who’s hot and who’s not?
Phillies: Aside from two turnovers in Game 2, the Phillies’ offense was mostly quiet in the NLDS. …Bohm was not in the starting lineup for Game 2 after struggling down the stretch and going 0-for-4 in Game 1; He came off the bench 0-2 in Game 2, and when he returned to the lineup for Game 3, he was ejected when he tried to turn his single into a double.

Mets: With three home runs in his last four games, Alonso is clearly on the rise with six RBIs this postseason. … No one is particularly cold on the Mets right now, as Brandon Nimmo and Tyrone Taylor were the only members of the starting lineup who didn’t get a sure hit in Game 3, and even Nimmo scored twice after reaching base multiple times with a pair of walks.

Is there anything else fans would like to know?