NLDS Game 3 Chat: Phillies vs Mets, 5:08 p.m

Friday, October 8, 2024 • 5:08 p.m
Citi Field • Flushing, NY
RHP Aaron Nola (14-8, 3.97) vs. LHP Sean Manaea (12-6, 3.46)
FS1

For the first time since 2015, there will be an NLDS game in Queens!

The Mets and Phillies will face off this afternoon with the series tied. The Phillies got off to a spectacular start Zack Wheeler on Saturday and the Mets were able to show some magic in the late inning and win the first game of the series. Then on Sunday, the Phillies flipped the script and faced the Mets several times. Thanks to the Mets and Mark Vientos However, he never gave up and tied the game in the 9th inning before the Phillies took the win. We’re two games in and this is already one of the most memorable playoff series the Mets have participated in.

Photo by Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images

Mets lineup

1. Francisco Lindor – SS
2. Mark Vientos – 3B
3. Brandon Nimmo – C.F
4. Pete Alonso – 1B
5. Jose Iglesias – 2B
6. Jesse Winker – DH
7. Starling Marte – RF
8. Tyrone Taylor – RF
9. Francisco Alvarez – C

Sean Manaea pitched 181 2/3 innings during the regular season with a 3.47 ERA, 3.83 FIP, 1.084 WHIP and 114 ERA+. He started Game 2 of the Wild Card Series and allowed two runs made up six hits and no walks over five innings. Manaea is familiar with the Phillies this season and has faced them three times. His first start against them was fantastic, allowing one run over six innings. Then he struggled in London, allowing six runs over 3 2/3 innings. Most recently, Manaea had a solid performance at home against the Phillies, holding them to three runs over seven innings on September 21st.

The Phillies have the following career numbers against him:

• Alec Boehm 2-10, HR, 3 K
• Nick Castellanos 6-16, 2B, 3hrs, 4K
• 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
• JT Realmuto 1-7, BB, 4K
• Johan Rojas 0-5, K
• Kyle Schwarber 2-6, HR, 2 BB
• Edmundo Sosa 4-8, 2B, 3B, HR, 2K
• Bryson Stott 3-7, HR, 2 BB, K
• Garrett Stubbs 1-2
• Trea Turner 5-16, HR, 4 K
• Weston Wilson 0-2, K

Opposing formation

1. Kyle Schwarber – DH
2. Trea Turner – SS
3. Bryce Harper – 1B
4. Nick Castellanos – RF
5. Alec Bohm – 3B
6. JT Realmuto – C
7. Austin Hays-LF
8. Edmundo Sosa – 2B
9. Johan Rojas – CF

The Mets face a pitcher they are very familiar with tonight: Aaron Nola. In 33 regular-season starts, he pitched 199 1/3 innings with a 3.57 ERA, 3.94 FIP, 1.199 WHIP and 114 ERA+.

Nola faced the Mets twice this season. At Citi Field in mid-May, he pitched a complete game shutout, holding the Mets to four hits. In September, he allowed six runs on six hits and two walks over 4 1/3 innings. His last start was on September 29, where he allowed three runs on 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
• JD Martinez 3-19, 2BB, 10K
• 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

Game notes

Check out a Pitching preview from tonight and that Storylines from today’s game.

Jeff McNeil will play Arizona Fall League games in hopes of joining the Mets in the playoffs.

Three things to pay attention to

1. Mark Vientos. There are people all over the world who picked up Mark Vientos in fantasy baseball this season, realized he was quietly putting up insane numbers, and hoped to steal him as a sleeper in their drafts next year. Those dreams completely evaporated when Mark Vientos gave it his all in the playoffs. On Sunday, he went 3-4 with two home runs and four RBIs, including the game-winning home run in the ninth inning. It was the third time in five playoff games that Vientos scored at least two goals. Overall, he hit .400/.429/.750 in 21 plate appearances in his five games.
2. Brandon Nimmo. In his last two games, Nimmo has gone 4 of 9 at the plate with two runs, a home run and three RBIs. He has a career .391 OBP against Aaron Nola. Nimmo is also on an eight-game winning streak, counting the final three games of the regular season. The Brandon Nimmo from the first half of the year may be back!
3. Navigating Harper. Bryce Harper changed the game on Sunday with his home run in the sixth inning. It changed the tenor of the game and the way the Mets approached him on every at-bat. The Mets have already eliminated Harper once. Don’t give him a stage in New York tonight!

Let’s go, Mets!