Kodai Senga to start in Game 1 of NLDS for the Mets on Saturday
Plus, the five things the Mets will have to do in order to beat the Phillies and move a step closer to the World Series...
What’s Up with the Mets? 🚩
The Mets were off on Friday, but will open up the National League Division Series in Philadelphia against the Phillies later today
RHP Kodai Senga was announced as the surprise starter for Game 1 of the NLDS. It isn’t known how deep into the game the ace will be able to go after recovering from a calf strain and triceps tightness, in addition to playing just one game all year
Both LHP David Peterson and RHP Tylor Megill will be available out of the bullpen for Game 1
RHP Luis Severino will get the start on the mound for the Mets in Game 2 on Sunday on regular rest. LHP Cristopher Sánchez will pitch for the Phillies on Sunday
LHP Sean Manaea and LHP Jose Quintana are potential options to start in Game 3 and Game 4 at Citi Field
Saturday will mark the first time in 18 years that both the Mets and the Yankees have played a postseason game on the same day
2B Jeff McNeil - who is currently rehabbing a fractured wrist and is away from the team - welcomed a baby girl with his wife, Tatiana, on Friday
GAME ONE
Match-up: Mets (0-0) vs. Phillies (0-0)
Where: Citizens Bank Park - Philadelphia, PA
Starters: RHP Kodai Senga vs. RHP Zack Wheeler
When: 4:08 PM EDT
Where to Watch: FOX
Getting Ready for Mets vs. Phillies 💥
The Mets went 6-7 vs the Phillies in 13 regular season games this year
This is the first time the Mets and the Phillies have been to the Division Series in the same year
The two teams have done battle on 1,081 occasions during the regular season, but Saturday will mark the first time they will meet in the playoffs
Mets RHP Kodai Senga will be making his MLB postseason debut on Saturday. He’s 1-1 with a career 1.46 ERA against the Phillies
Phillies RHP Zack Wheeler owns a 2.42 ERA over 11 career games in the postseason - all for Philadelphia - and he boasts the lowest postseason WHIP (0.73) of any player in major league history with at least 10 starts
Mets C Francisco Alvarez hit .294/.368/.882 with one double, three home runs, nine RBIs and five runs scored against the Phillies in the regular season
Phillies 1B Bryce Harper helped lead a Philadelphia offense that ranked in the top three in baseball and is money in the postseason with 11 homers, 21 RBIs and a 1.137 OPS in 30 postseason games over the last two years
Philadelphia went 33-33 in the second-half of the year, while the Mets won 20 of their final 29 regular season games and have all the momentum heading into Game 1
Home advantage is a real thing and the Phillies love playing in front of an intense and passionate home crowd - they were 54-27 at Citizens Bank Park during the regular season, yet just 41-40 on the road
The Phillies are making their third straight NLDS appearance and are looking to get back to the World Series for the first time since 2022
New York is looking to advance to the NLCS for the first time since the 2015 season
The winner of this series would play either the Dodgers or the Padres in the NLCS
NLDS Schedule 🗓️
MLB announced the full schedule for the NLDS on Friday:
Game 1 at PHI: Saturday, 4:08 PM EST - FOX
Game 2 at PHI: Sunday, 4:08 PM EST - FS1
Game 3 at NYM: Tuesday: 5:08 PM EST - FOX / FS1
Game 4 at NYM: Wednesday: 5:08 PM EST* - FOX / FS1
Game 5 at PHI: Friday, 4:08 PM EST* - FOX / FS1
*If necessary
5 Mets keys to beating the Phillies in the NLDS… ✍️
Before we get into the heart of today’s newsletter, it is important to note just how special a year this is turning out to be for the Mets.
We’ve witnessed arguably two of the greatest wins ever in franchise history in just a matter of days. This has been a week for the ages for this organization.
There is just something ridiculously magical about this team right now, and you’d be foolish to bet against the Mets. Some teams just have the juice at the perfect time, and it wouldn’t be surprising at this point if this team made a run all the way to the World Series.
However, let’s not get too ahead of ourselves here.
The Phillies are an elite team and they are built to contend for the World Series right now. Granted, they cooled off considerably after the All-Star break. Although, one could argue that they were able to coast because of the big lead they had established with the postseason always firmly in mind. Either way, Philadelphia is a very, very good ballclub and this is going to be one hell of a tough series for the Mets.
Will the fairytale ride continue? Or will the magic run out for the Mets?
Only time will tell. In the meantime, here are some keys to taking down the Phillies and moving a step closer to the World Series…
Stay Resilient
Every postseason, no matter the sport, there seems to be a team of destiny that emerges from the shadows to embark on an all-time run. It was the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2023. Are the 2024 Mets this year’s team of destiny? We can’t answer that question just yet, but it is clear that New York is cooking with gas and this ballclub will begin the NLDS with all the momentum. However, you can’t deny that the Mets rode their luck at times in order to get here, and some of their flaws may well be exposed by the Phillies. There are going to be a slew of tough moments in this series, and this team will have to find a way to overcome them and continue to defy the odds. Just as they have done all year long. Staying resilient and relying on that tough underbelly will be key to success in the NLDS.
Brace For The Storm
Citizen Banks Park is going to be electric. Phillies fans know how to bring the ruckus and that is one intimidating ballpark come playoff time. Furthermore, Philadelphia was formidable at home with a stellar 54-27 record, in addition to scoring 410 runs. The Mets, who went 2-3 at CBP during the regular season, will need to win at least one game on the road if they want to advance. It is imperative that this team adapts to the hostility quickly in Game 1 and not get overwhelmed. Because, if that happens, this series could be over in a New York minute.
Ride Lindor & Alonso
The hope is that Pete Alonso will now come alive following his heroics in Game 3 of the NL Wild Card series. The slugger struggled before his all-time statement moment, and he’s failed to take over games this year. However, if the Mets want to beat the offensively-loaded Phillies, they will need Alonso to go on a heater and produce more monster moments. The same applies to Francisco Lindor. The MVP contender has seemingly shaken off his back issues having once again put this team on his shoulders so far in the postseason. It may seem obvious - because it is - but if the Mets want to continue their postseason adventure, they are going to need both Lindor and Alonso to be difference-makers in this series.
Shutdown Harper
As already mentioned, the Phillies are an absolute offensive juggernaut. Their offense ranked in the top third in baseball. They boast a number of elite weapons, including Trea Turner and Kyle Schwarber, with the latter hitting 38 home runs with 104 RBIs during the regular season. However, if the Mets want to stop Philadelphia, they must stop Bryce Harper. Period. Harper was built to thrive in the biggest moments and he’s certainly done that in recent times. Over the last two years, in which the Phillies have reached the NLCS and the World Series, Harper has hit .324 with 11 home runs, 21 RBIs and a 1.137 OPS in his team’s past 30 playoff games. When the spotlight gets brighter, Harper raises his game and he could prove to be the difference maker in this series. Plus, Harper killed the Mets this year with four home runs, four doubles and a 1.027 OPS in 12 games.
Set The Tone
The Mets face the daunting task of potentially going up against elite pitcher Zack Wheeler twice in this series. The former Met is one of the best starters in the game and, were it not for Chris Sale, might have been a lock for another Cy Young season having gone 16-7 with a 2.57 ERA. Furthermore, Wheeler has been outstanding in the postseason and he knows how to handle the big moments. If the Mets want to win this series, they are probably going to have to figure out a way to beat Wheeler at least once. But what better way to send a message than to get to Wheeler early and often in Game 1 and force him out of the contest early. If the Mets are able to beat up on their former pitcher on Saturday, then that could change the entire complexion of this series.
The Championship Chase 🏆
Gerrit Cole - who owned a 3.41 ERA during the regular season - will be on the mound for the Yankees as they take on the Royals in Game 1 of the ALDS on Saturday at Yankee Stadium
Dodgers RHP Yoshinobu Yamamoto will go up against the Padres’ Dylan Cease in a compelling pitcher’s duel in Game 1
The Tigers will look to continue their remarkable postseason run against the Guardians, with LHP Tyler Holton getting the ball in Game 1 while Cy Young favorite Tarik Skubal will start Game 2
Around the League 📰
The Padres announced that RHP Joe Musgrove has a UCL injury and will undergo Tommy John surgery
The Braves are expected to exercise the 2025 club options on DH Marcell Ozuna, LHP Aaron Bummer and C Travis d’Arnaud (MLB.com)
Thad Levine stepped down from his position as senior vice president and general manager of the Twins on Friday
Tomoyuki Sugano - a two-time Central League MVP - is leaving the Yomiuri Giants and intends to sign with an MLB team in free agency this offseason