For the first time since 2015, there will be an NLDS game in Queens!
The Mets and the Phillies are set to square off this afternoon with the series tied at one a piece. The Phillies got a spectacular start from Zack Wheeler on Saturday and the Mets were able to pull off some late inning magic to take the first game of the series. The Phillies then flipped the script on Sunday, coming back against the Mets multiple times. Credit to the Mets and Mark Vientos though, who never gave up and still tied the game in the 9th inning before the Phillies walked it off. We are two games in and this is already one of the memorable playoff series the Mets have been apart of.
Sean Manaea pitched 181 2/3 innings over the regular season with a 3.47 ERA, 3.83 FIP, 1.084 WHIP and a 114 ERA+. He started game two of the wild card series, allowing two runs from six hits and no walks over five innings. Manaea is familiar with the Phillies this season, already facing them three times. His first start against them was fantastic, allowing one run over six innings. He then struggled in London, allowing six runs over 3 2/3 innings. More recently, Manaea was solid against the Phillies at home, holding them to three runs over seven innings on September 21st. The Phillies have the following career numbers against him:
- Alec Bohm 2-10, HR, 3 K
- Nick Castellanos 6-16, 2B, 3 HR, 4 K
- Kody Clemens 0-1
- Bryce Harper 4-11, 2 2B, HR, 2 K
- Austin Hays 2-3, HR
- Brandon Marsh 0-3, BB, 2 K
- J.T. Realmuto 1-7, BB, 4 K
- Johan Rojas 0-5, K
- Kyle Schwarber 2-6, HR, 2 BB
- Edmundo Sosa 4-8, 2B, 3B, HR, 2 K
- Bryson Stott 3-7, HR, 2 BB, K
- Garrett Stubbs 1-2
- Trea Turner 5-16, HR, 4 K
- Weston Wilson 0-2, K
The Mets will face a pitcher tonight they are very familiar with – Aaron Nola. Over 33 starts in the regular season he pitched 199 1/3 innings with a 3.57 ERA, 3.94 FIP, 1.199 WHIP and a 114 ERA+. Nola has faced the Mets twice this season. At Citi Field in mid-May he tossed a complete game shutout, holding the Mets to four runs. In September he allowed six runs from six hits and two walks over 4 1/3 innings. His last start was on September 29th where he allowed three runs from nine hits over five innings against the Nationals. The Mets have the following career numbers against him:
- Pete Alonso 16-50, 3 2B, 5 HR, 4 BB, 14 K
- Francisco Alvarez 1-2, HR
- Harrison Bader 0-4, 4 K
- Jose Iglesias 4-9, 2B
- Francisco Lindor 7-33, 2 2B, BB, 8 K
- Starling Marte 11-31, 2 2B, HR, 9 K
- J.D. Martinez 3-19, 2 BB, 10 K
- Brandon Nimmo 13-52, 3B, 2 HR, 12 BB, 19 K
- Tyrone Taylor 4-10, 2 2B, BB, K
- Luis Torrens 2-3
- Mark Vientos 1-3, K
- Jesse Winker 4-24, HR, 2 BB, 2 K
Three Things To Watch For:
- Mark Vientos. Across the world there are people who picked up Mark Vientos in fantasy baseball this season, realized that he was quietly putting up insane numbers, and were hoping to steal him as a sleeper in their drafts next year. Those dreams have fully evaporated as Mark Vientos has turned it on in the playoffs. On Sunday he went 3-for-4 at the plate with two home runs, 4 RBI’s, including the game tying home run in the ninth inning. It was the third time in five games in the playoffs that Vientos had at least two hits. Overall he’s hitting .400/.429/.750 across 21 plate appearances in his five games.
- Brandon Nimmo. In his last two games Nimmo has gone 4-for-9 at the plate with two runs scored, a home run and three RBI’s. He has a career .391 OBP against Aaron Nola. Nimmo is also on a eight game hitting streak if you count the last three games in the regular season. The Brandon Nimmo from the first half of the year might be back!
- Navigating Harper. Bryce Harper changed the course of the game with his home run in the sixth inning on Sunday. It changed the tenor of the game and how the Mets approached him in every at bat after. The Mets have shut Harper down before. Don’t give him a stage in New York tonight!
Let’s Go Mets!
