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They’re historical rivals, division cellmates from the start, their disdain fueled by equal elements familiarity and proximity, their parks positioned simply 116.5 miles aside, every stuffed with emotionally charged, balled-fist backers.
Till now, the Mets and Phillies have been solely summer time foes, strangers in October. However by the top of the week, they may very properly turn out to be the brand new Yankees versus Pink Sox.
It’s #OMG versus #STFU.
Grimace versus the Phanatic.
The Sizzling versus The Received.
The Mets could also be dreaming now, excessive off the Milwaukee Miracle, however actuality looms in Philadelphia.
The Phillies ain’t the Brewers.
They’re a crew that exploded out of the gate, and regardless of a short July hiccup, cruised to the NL East title and second-best report in baseball, narrowly bested by the Dodgers.
A crew artfully put collectively by renown architect Dave Dombrowski, they’re October examined, having been to the World Sequence two years in the past and solely failing a return journey final 12 months by shedding in seven to Arizona within the NLCS.
They’ve a lineup of bashers, a powerful rotation and a good higher bullpen.
They embrace the brilliant lights and are ring obsessed after being so shut the final two years.
Don’t be fooled by the actual fact the Mets solely misplaced the season collection, 7-6.
Three of the Mets wins got here towards Phillies fuel can No. 5 starters and also you don’t want fifth starters in October.
“On paper, it’s a whole mismatch,” one NL scout stated. “The Mets don’t stand an opportunity.”
This week, we are going to be taught if magic is actual. Let me introduce you to the Phightin’ Phillies:
The Brutes on Broad Avenue
Constructed to bash, the Phils throw haymakers from the highest of the lineup with lefty hulkster Kyle Schwarber, the antithesis of the trad leadoff hitter.
As soon as a subject of debate, even the purists can’t complain over clogged bases with the membership’s success deploying their first-up spirit animal, The Schwarbomb, who set a serious league report with 15 leadoff homers this season, the final one coming Sept. 21 on an 0-1 sinker from Mets lefty Sean Manaea.
In actual fact, since Schwarber joined the Phils in 2022, they’re 83-36 when he homers in a recreation.
Following a disappointing 2023 marketing campaign, second-up Trea Turner rounded again nearer to his MVP type this season, however nonetheless carried out extremely streaky.
Sandwiched between Schwarber and famous person Bryce Harper, Turner, along with his deadly mixture of pace and pop, is a key to navigating this lineup.
Harper hit 30 bombs this season — and that’s with a protracted energy outage from Aug. 10 to Sept. 13 wherein he went 30 video games with out a house run.
Comply with The Publish’s protection of the Mets within the postseason:
The week off ought to assist a nagging sore elbow and he stays as harmful as they arrive, particularly in October.
Harper began this group’s postseason magic with a homer by the raindrops off Padres fireball reliever Robert Suarez that despatched the Phillies to the World Sequence two years in the past.
However the Phillies trio of right-handed bats of catcher JT Realmuto, outfielder Nick Castellanos and third baseman Alec Bohm may very properly be key towards the lefty-dominant Mets rotation.
Castellanos will hit cleanup. Whereas he’s susceptible to the breaking ball away, he’s proven a lot better endurance on the plate.
That can permit the younger Bohm — whose finest reward is plate protection — to hit fifth and let Realmuto present some clutch steadiness within the lineup within the six gap. Realmuto — probably the greatest defensive catchers within the recreation with a gun of an arm — is lastly wholesome after an injury-plagued season.
The underside third is the weakest piece of the Phillies lineup.
Second baseman Bryson Stott has struggled after a promising two years, particularly towards lefties.
He’ll probably sit towards the Mets lefties for Edmundo Sosa.
Equally, the younger, long-bearded Brandon Marsh will platoon with Austin Hays, the right-handed bat acquired from Baltimore on the deadline.
The Phils will go for supreme protection in middle subject with the light-hitting Johan Rojas.
The rotation
Of all of the disastrous pitching choices by the Mets lately, the worst, by far, was giving up on Zack Wheeler, who has blossomed into a real ace.
“He’s turn out to be a real horse,” the scout stated. “He jogs my memory of Roy Halladay. He’s huge and highly effective. He throws his fastball anyplace he needs — inside, exterior — and his ball is so heavy it’s like hitting a bowling ball. You may’t barrel it up.”
Wheeler allowed simply 139 hits and struck out 224 with an 0.96 whip in 200 innings this season.
Thompson opted to throw younger lefty Cristopher Sanchez in Sport 2 on Sunday. Sanchez, who has a lot better splits at house, has blossomed right into a promising starter. He’s cranked his velocity as much as a constant 96-97 mph and developed a depraved changeup.
“His fastball and changeup come from the identical tunnel,” the scout stated. “He actually retains a hitter off steadiness.”
Veteran Aaron Nola, the unflappable innings eater, will pitch Sport 3 in New York.
He’s no stranger to the Mets, who’ve confronted him 28 occasions in his profession. He’s 10-9 with a 3.46.
Hero Pete Alonso has had essentially the most success towards him with 5 house runs.
If there’s a weak point with Nola, it’s his penchant for giving up the lengthy ball. He surrendered 30 on the 12 months in 197 innings.
The pen
That is the place the Phillies will be very harmful, particularly with the deadline acquisition of nearer Carlos Estevez from the Angels.
They’ve 5 legit arms to throw within the again finish with All-Star Jeff Hoffman and Orion Kerkering from the suitable aspect and wicked-stuff lefties Jose Alvarado and Matt Strahm, one other All-Star.
“Exterior of perhaps the Padres, the Phillies have the most effective bullpen in baseball,” the scout stated. “They only have so many choices late within the recreation. And in addition, their starters can go deep into the sport. You already know Wheeler is simply itching to provide it [back to the Mets].”
Pink October
What makes the Phillies really feel much more formidable is the home-field benefit at Residents Financial institution Park, a frenzied place that has shortly turn out to be not like every other within the normally hyped Philly — that features the Eagles at Lincoln Monetary Discipline.
Alex Rodriguez went wild for the Financial institution the primary time he skilled it two years in the past working for Fox within the World Sequence.
“Philly really has the tenth man benefit,” he stated Friday.
“The noise there,” former Phillies supervisor Charlie Manuel stated, “it looks like an ocean wave swallowing you up.”
Publish alum Anthony L. Gargano is a content material creator for PHLY of ALLCITY Networks based mostly in Philadelphia
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