The Philadelphia Phillies head to Citi Field on Sunday, September 20, for a 1:10 PM ET regular season showdown against the New York Mets. Left-hander Cristopher Sánchez takes the ball for Philadelphia against New York's Jonah Tong in what is a meaningful late-September NL East matchup. The game airs locally on NBCSP and on the radio on 1210 WPHT for Phillies fans who can't make the trip up the Turnpike.

Phillies vs. Mets Pitching Matchup: Sánchez vs. Tong

Cristopher Sánchez gets the nod for Philadelphia. The soft-tossing left-hander has established himself as one of the more reliable arms in the Phillies' rotation, relying on deception, command, and a sinker-heavy approach to keep hitters off balance. He's the kind of pitcher who doesn't generate flashy strikeout numbers but consistently keeps his team in games — exactly what you want in a late-September start on the road.

Opposing him is Jonah Tong, a younger arm working his way through the Mets' rotation. Tong is less of a known quantity at this level, which means the Phillies' lineup will need to be disciplined early — work counts, get a read on his stuff, and don't let youth and adrenaline carry him deeper into the game than he deserves.

Philadelphia Phillies Lineup at Citi Field

• Kyle Schwarber, DH
• Trea Turner, SS
• Bryce Harper, RF
• Luis Arraez, 2B
• Alec Bohm, 1B
• Bryson Stott, 3B
• Brandon Marsh, LF
• J.T. Realmuto, C
• Justin Crawford, CF

New York Mets Lineup

• Francisco Lindor, SS
• Juan Soto, LF
• Bo Bichette, 3B
• Mark Vientos, 1B
• Carson Benge, RF
• Marcus Semien, 2B
• Francisco Alvarez, DH
• Nick Morabito, CF
• Luis Torrens, C

Three Keys to Watch for the Phillies

1. Harper and the Heart of the Order

Bryce Harper hitting third with Luis Arraez right behind him is a combination that can grind any pitcher into the dirt. Harper provides the thunder, Arraez provides the contact — if those two are locked in, this lineup becomes very difficult to navigate for a pitcher still establishing himself at this level.

2. Sánchez vs. Soto and the Top of New York's Order

The toughest assignment for Sánchez is the top of the Mets' lineup. Francisco Lindor and Juan Soto are two of the better hitters in the National League, and both have the patience to run counts and the pop to make Sánchez pay for any mistakes over the plate. How Sánchez handles that one-two punch in his first couple of turns through the order will set the tone for the afternoon.

3. Justin Crawford's Presence at the Bottom

Justin Crawford batting ninth in center field adds a layer of intrigue to the Phillies' lineup. A young, athletic presence at the base of the order can flip into a table-setter in a hurry. Keep an eye on whether Crawford can get on base and put pressure on the Mets' defense.

Prediction

This one comes down to Sánchez doing what he does — keeping the ball on the ground, limiting the big inning, and giving the offense enough time to solve Tong. The Phillies have the lineup depth to wear out a younger arm, and if Schwarber gets to a fastball early, Citi Field could get quiet in a hurry. Edge: Phillies, 4–2.