Game 2 of the National League Division Series (NLDS) is set for Sunday, featuring a clash between the New York Mets and the Philadelphia Phillies. The Mets carried forward their momentum from the Wild Card Round into Game 1, securing a 6-2 victory on Saturday. With this win, they now lead the series 1-0, having successfully claimed home-field advantage. In this situation, the Phillies must win three of the next four games to advance, with two of those contests taking place in Queens. The Mets will send Luis Severino (3.91 ERA) to the mound, while the Phillies will counter with Christopher Sanchez (3.32 ERA). The first pitch is scheduled for 4:08 PM EST at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia, and fans can catch the action on FS1.
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Mets Showcase Late-Game Power
The New York Mets showcased their resilience by rallying late in the game, reminiscent of their previous postseason performance. Following a dramatic series-clinching home run by Pete Alonso that propelled them into the NLDS, the Mets found themselves scoreless for the first seven innings against the Phillies. However, in the eighth inning, they erupted with a five-run rally, demonstrating their ability to capitalize on late-game opportunities. Remarkably, the Mets did not hit any home runs during the game, relying instead on their offensive depth with RBIs contributed by five different players. Notably, Brandon Nimmo played a key role, finishing the game with two RBIs from singles in the eighth and ninth innings, solidifying their 6-2 victory.
Nimmo, who bats third as the left fielder, was notably snubbed from the All-Star selection this season. He recorded 23 home runs and 90 RBIs while batting .224 during the regular season. Mark Vientos has also emerged as a strong postseason performer for the Mets, contributing five hits thus far. The two standout players in New York’s lineup are Francisco Lindor and Pete Alonso. Lindor, the shortstop and leadoff hitter, had a less-than-stellar performance on Saturday, going 0-3, but he still led the team with 169 hits throughout the season. He displayed significant power with 33 home runs and 91 RBIs. Alonso, the Mets’ primary power hitter, recorded 34 home runs this season and had the decisive home run in the Wild Card Round. He contributed to Saturday’s win with a sacrifice fly that allowed Vientos to score.
Luis Severino takes the mound for this matchup, entering as a 30-year-old right-handed pitcher with an 11-7 record for the season. He tallied 161 strikeouts against 60 walks and allowed 23 home runs throughout the year. Severino has already made a postseason start against the Brewers, where he pitched six innings and allowed eight hits and three earned runs in an 8-4 Mets victory.
Phillies in a Critical Position
While the Philadelphia Phillies’ season will not conclude with a loss in Game 2, they face immense pressure to avoid going to New York needing to win both games just to force a Game 5. In their previous encounter, the Phillies squandered a stellar start from Zack Wheeler, who pitched seven innings, allowed only one hit, and struck out nine batters before being pulled in the eighth inning. The Mets capitalized on this decision, scoring five runs in that inning, leaving the Phillies’ coaching staff to wonder about their strategic choices. Kyle Schwarber started the scoring with a leadoff home run, but the team managed only one more run in the ninth inning, resulting in their defeat.
Schwarber, who has made headlines this season, set a record for the most leadoff home runs in a single season, hitting 14 in his first at-bat. With 38 home runs and 104 RBIs, Schwarber led the Phillies in offensive production. Bryce Harper contributed a hit on Saturday, drawing two walks but failing to convert them into extra-base hits. Harper led the team with 157 hits this season, hitting 30 home runs and collecting 87 RBIs. Trea Turner, who bats in the third spot, went 0-4 in Saturday’s loss but has had a successful season as an All-Star with 21 home runs and 62 RBIs. However, the lineup has struggled, with Alex Bohm and Nick Castellanos both having over 85 RBIs this year but failing to deliver in crucial moments.
Christopher Sanchez is set to start for the Phillies. The 27-year-old left-hander finished the regular season with an 11-9 record and a 3.32 ERA, ranking as the 18th-best in Major League Baseball. Over the course of the season, Sanchez struck out 153 batters while allowing just 11 home runs. He has not started a game since September 25th, when he pitched 4.2 innings against the Cubs, allowing three runs in a win.
Insightful Bets for Mets vs. Phillies Showdown
The current odds reflect the Phillies at -160 on the moneyline and +135 on the runline. Many analysts predict a strong bounce-back performance from Philadelphia, making the runline an appealing option. Both starting pitchers have faced their respective opponents this season, with Sanchez showing superior results. Sanchez has a 3.06 ERA against the Mets, while Severino’s ERA against the Phillies stands at 4.50. Sanchez pitched over 182 innings this season, allowing only 11 home runs, compared to Severino’s 23 over a similar inning count. With four players having hit 30 or more home runs this season, the Phillies seem to hold an advantage, given Sanchez’s tendency to minimize mistakes. The decision to pull Wheeler in Game 1 may haunt the Phillies, but if Sanchez performs well, they could rely on him for a crucial victory. In their last meeting, Severino struggled against the Phillies’ lineup, which included significant contributions from Turner, Schwarber, Harper, and Castellanos, leading to a total of 10 runs. Expect the Phillies to deliver a strong performance as they fight to stay alive in the series.
