PHILADELPHIA — Max Scherzer’s two starts on the Mets’ current road trip have firmly reestablished that he’s capable of leading the rotation.

Two dangerous lineups, two strong performances, and most importantly, two victories for the Mets.

The veteran right-hander followed his best start of the year, an eight-inning gem Monday in Houston, with six strong frames Saturday that helped the Mets to a 4-2 victory over the Phillies at Citizens Bank Park.

The win was only the Mets’ fifth in their last 19 games and moved them to six below .500.

Any shot the Mets have at competing for a postseason berth is predicated mostly upon improved starting pitching, and that must start with Scherzer and co-ace Justin Verlander, both of whom have failed to pitch at a consistent level so far in this first half.

“We have got to win series right now and this is a big one,” Scherzer said. “Especially in the division. … I am not caught up in my results. I am focused on my process and how my pitches play and that’s what I put my attention to. Results come and go.”

Scherzer (7-2) departed after throwing 107 pitches. He allowed two earned runs on seven hits and one walk over six innings with eight strikeouts.

Brooks Raley, Adam Ottavino, and David Robertson combined to record the final nine outs.

Robertson got Bryson Stott to hit into an inning-ending double play in the eighth with the tying runs on base. In the ninth, Robertson got Josh Harrison to hit into a game-ending double play for his 11th save.

Manager Buck Showalter faced a big decision after the fifth inning with Scherzer already at 94 pitches and working without the benefit of an extra day off between starts.

Ultimately, the manager decided Scherzer would get to face three hitters in the sixth. He retired all of them.

“He’s smart, but he’s competitive,” Showalter said. “He doesn’t let his emotions get in the way of giving his team a chance to win.”

Scherzer said it didn’t take much convincing for Showalter to give him the sixth inning.

“I just told him I felt good,” Scherzer said. “It was a hot day today and I just felt like I really didn’t have to use a lot of effort to generate velocity. I was just pitching … I felt strong and I knew I could finish that inning.”

To open the road trip, Scherzer had dominated the Astros, allowing one run over eight innings with eight strikeouts.

That followed consecutive clunkers against the Braves and Yankees that had helped send the Mets’ rotation into a tailspin.

After two fielding miscues contributed heavily to a 5-1 loss Friday night, the Mets did not commit an error and were close to spotless on defense.

The victory was the Mets’ fourth in five games against the Phillies this season.

Starling Marte’s first-inning home run gave his team a rare lead in the opening frame.

The Mets have been outscored 56-21 in first innings this year. Marte’s homer was his fourth of the season and his first since June 4 against the Blue Jays.

Luis Guillorme’s leadoff triple in the third inning against Christopher Sanchez helped the Mets extend their lead to 2-0 on Brandon Nimmo’s RBI single.

Guillorme was in the lineup at second base as Jeff McNeil rested a sore left wrist from the previous night.

Nick Castellanos launched a homer to center field leading off the fourth that cut the Phillies’ deficit to 2-1. The homer was the fifth allowed by Scherzer in his last four starts.

Stott then singled and stole second with two outs in the inning before Scherzer escaped by retiring Alec Bohm.

Trea Turner tied it 2-2 with an RBI single in the fifth after Brandon Marsh had stroked a leadoff double. Castellanos delivered a two-out single after Turner’s hit, but Scherzer struck out Bryce Harper to leave the two runners stranded.

The Mets broke the tie in the sixth inning. Nimmo, Marte and Francisco Lindor singled successively to begin the inning and Pete Alonso’s RBI fielder’s choice gave the Mets a 3-2 lead.

Tommy Pham slapped an RBI single for the other run in the inning.

“To keep it at a 2-2 game and then our offense goes out and scores another run it kind of flips the game in our favor and allows us to use our high-leverage relievers,” Scherzer said. “[Striking out Harper in the fifth] was a pivotal point in the game, but at the same time, that allows our team to win. That is what makes it great today is everybody had a hand in it.”