The New York Mets and Philadelphia Phillies will resume their National League Division Series in Game 3 on Tuesday after an off day for travel. The Mets return home with a chance to earn a series win in front of their home fans after managing to steal one of the away games.
The Phillies walked it off in the last game, tying the series before they head on the road. They avoided the disastrous 0-2 hole, but if they're going to win the series, they're going to have to win one of the road games, too.
Mets vs. Phillies: Recent Form and Records
The New York Mets got hot to get into the playoffs, winning one of the two doubleheader games on the Monday after the season ended. They ended up going 5-5 to make it to the playoffs but then took two of three on the road against the Milwaukee Brewers.
The Philadelphia Phillies stumbled into the playoffs. They lost their final game and were 4-6 over the last 10 before the calendar turned to October. They responded by blowing a lead in Game 1 and having to come back and walk it off in Game 2.
Players to Watch
Starting Pitchers
Aaron Nola (14-8, 3.57 ERA, 197 SO) vs. Sean Manaea (12-6, 3.47 ERA, 184 SO)
Aaron Nola has a 1.20 WHIP and 197 strikeouts in 199.1 innings pitched.
Last Start: Five innings, nine hits, three earned runs, zero walks and seven strikeouts.
Career vs. Mets: 10-9 with a 3.46 ERA and 205 strikeouts in 28 appearances.
Meanwhile, Sean Manaea has a 1.08 WHIP and 184 strikeouts in 181.2 innings pitched.
Last Start: (playoffs) Five innings pitched, six hits, two earned runs, zero walks and four strikeouts.
Career vs. Phillies: 2-2 with a 5.19 ERA and 24 strikeouts in six appearances.
Must-watch Hitters
Phillies
Bryce Harper is 2/5 with four walks in the series. The Phillies star also has two runs scored, a home run and two RBI during the two games.
Nick Castellanos is 4/9 in this series with one walk-off single. Castellanos has a home run, two RBI and two runs scored in the two matchups.
Mets
Despite the loss, Mark Vientos slugged two home runs in Game 2. Overall, he is 5/8 in this series with three runs, a double, two home runs and five RBI.
Francisco Lindor got hot in Game 2 as well. He went 2/5 with two runs scored and has three runs scored and two walks in the series as a whole.
Mets vs. Phillies: Baseball Betting Odds
Mets vs. Phillies: Expert Predictions
The Phillies and Mets match up well in the pitching department for today, and that's why the odds are so close. The Mets are at home, but the Phillies have more firepower. The Phillies will have to win one of these two games to return home.
Look for Philadelphia to ride an offense that comes alive on the road to a close victory in its first road contest of the 2024 playoffs.
Run Line: -1.5
Total Runs: Over 7
Prediction: Phillies 5, Mets 4