Well, Well, Well.
Here we are, in the Division Series. A series that no 100-win Mets team has played in since their last World Series title.
To be fair, before the beginning of the season I ranked the National League East teams as follows:
Atlanta Braves
Philadelphia Phillies
New York Mets
Miami Marlins
Washington Nationals
Nailed that one.
The name of the game in postseason baseball is pitching & power at the plate. The Mets had an abundance of starting pitching, but they disappeared in October. The Mets haven’t had power in their lineup all season, it’d be silly to assume it would show up in the postseason.
Meanwhile, the Phillies are built like a slow-pitch softball team + Aaron Nola & Zack Wheeler (former Met). Wheeler & Nola are capable of shutting anyone down on any given night and Ranger Suarez has had Atlanta’s number all season. The Phillies lineup is also the deepest of any National League team - still alive or eliminated - outside of Los Angeles & Atlanta. They bang.
I’m going to be completely honest here, I believe the Phillies are a bigger threat to the Braves than the Dodgers. The familiarity Philly has with Atlanta’s staff & Philly’s staff has with Atlanta’s lineup will close the gap already, then add in seeing the same pitchers in such a short period of time in this series, it’s not unfathomable to think the Phillies can eliminate the Braves. I don’t think they will; but it’s postseason baseball, crazier things have happened.