Series Thread: NY Mets @ Phil. Phillies (9/30-10/2)

[Tai Chi≈Surfing]

• Morning Briefing: Magic number stays at 2 after controversial ending

NEW YORK -- The New York Mets could clinch a wild-card spot as soon as Friday, but they will need help beyond simply beating the Philadelphia Phillies in the series opener at Citizens Bank Park.

The St. Louis Cardinals’ controversial victory on Thursday against the Cincinnati Reds kept the Mets’ magic number at two to secure a postseason spot. St. Louis won on a walk-off RBI double by Yadier Molina. The Reds wanted to challenge the play, claiming it was a ground-rule double that warranted the winning run going back to third base. But the umpires had left the field and later asserted that time had expired to challenge the play.

St. Louis (83-76) remained a game behind the San Francisco Giants (84-75) for the second wild-card spot.

The Mets are 85-74. With three games remaining, they can clinch a postseason berth with a win plus a loss by the Cardinals on Friday.

Robert Gsellman (3-2, 2.56 ERA) opposes right-hander Alec Asher (2-0, 1.66) in the 7:05 p.m. ET series opener in Philadelphia.

 

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THE RARITY OF FAMILIA'S 50-SAVE SEASON
Jeurys Familia of the Mets is the fourth pitcher with at least 50 saves in a campaign within his first five MLB seasons, per the Elias Sports Bureau. The others:

• Bobby Thigpen - 57 saves for the White Sox in 1990 (fifth season)
• Eric Gagne - 52 for the Dodgers in 2002 (fourth season)
• Craig Kimbrel - 50 for the Braves in 2013 (fifth season)

 

[Used 2 B Hu]

It's pretty simple: win tonight and they are pretty much guaranteed IN. St. Louis is going to have a hard time sweeping Pittsburgh.

There might be a tie for the second WC between the Cards and Giants. Unfortunately, at least one of them is going to make it.

 

[Tai Chi≈Surfing]

It's pretty simple: win tonight and they are pretty much guaranteed IN. St. Louis is going to have a hard time sweeping Pittsburgh.

There might be a tie for the second WC between the Cards and Giants. Unfortunately, at least one of them is going to make it.

Did you read what Doyers' skipper Dave Roberts said?

Mets and Cardinals fans need not worry. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said his club plans on playing the Giants hard this weekend with playoff implications present. At question, though, would be how long starters Clayton Kershaw and Rich Hill are extended in their outings.

 

[Used 2 B Hu]

Did you read what Doyers' skipper Dave Roberts said?

Yeah, yeah, they hate the Giants, blah blah...Vin Scully's last series, yadda yadda...real emotional, etc...

Even with them playing hard, I still think SF takes at least 2.

The Mets can't afford to come out flat, at all. There were a LOT of runs scored in that last series with Philly. Can't count on being able to come back every game, so hopefully they score early and keep loose. Jay Bruce has FINALLY started to hit, so that's a plus.

 

[Tai Chi≈Surfing]

Yeah, yeah, they hate the Giants, blah blah...Vin Scully's last series, yadda yadda...real emotional, etc...

Even with them playing hard, I still think SF takes at least 2.

The Mets can't afford to come out flat, at all. There were a LOT of runs scored in that last series with Philly. Can't count on being able to come back every game, so hopefully they score early and keep loose. Jay Bruce has FINALLY started to hit, so that's a plus.

lol...well there's still a chance for the Dodgers to finish with a better record or at least tie with Washington which would give them HFA in their series against the Nats at the ravine....so there's that.

That being said..I'm confident the Amazin's take 2 of 3 in Philly...which should give them HFA in the WC game.

 

[Used 2 B Hu]

That being said..I'm confident the Amazin's take 2 of 3 in Philly...which would give them HFA in the WC game.

Starting pitching still scares me. Gsellman has done fine but is he due for a clunker? Hopefully Syndergaard doesn't need to go deep on Sunday.

 

[Tai Chi≈Surfing]

Starting pitching still scares me. Gsellman has done fine but is he due for a clunker? Hopefully Syndergaard doesn't need to go deep on Sunday.

The Mets can wrap up a wild-card spot before Sunday. They can clinch a postseason berth with a win plus a loss by the Cardinals on Friday. That means Noah Syndergaard can toss about 25 pitches on the final day of the regular season rather than have a full workload. He then would be ready to face the Giants or Cardinals on Wednesday.

 

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Here is the Mets lineup for Friday's 7:05 p.m. ET series opener against the Phillies at CBP:
(The magic number is 2)

Reyes 3B
Cabrera SS
Cespedes LF
Granderson CF
Bruce RF
TJ Rivera 2B
Duda 1B
R Rivera C
Gsellman RHP

Wilmer Flores again will attempt to swing a bat today. It's been 20 days since Flores injured his right wrist in a plate collision in Atlanta.

 

[Used 2 B Hu]

Here is the Mets lineup for Friday's 7:05 p.m. ET series opener against the Phillies at CBP:
(The magic number is 2)

Reyes 3B
Cabrera SS
Cespedes LF
Granderson CF
Bruce RF
TJ Rivera 2B
Duda 1B
R Rivera C
Gsellman RHP

So it looks like we've given up on Travis d'Arnaud this year

 

[Tai Chi≈Surfing]

So it looks like we've given up on Travis d'Arnaud this year

I've been screaming for Rivera to get the majority of starts behind the plate since right around the all star break.
He's definitely the better option both with the bat and in throwing out base stealers....and also in overall game calling prowess. I like Td'A...but he seems to lose focus a lot, and base runners steal on him at will, as he just can't throw anyone out. Rivera has more than proved he needs to be the primary catcher right now.

 

[Tai Chi≈Surfing]

NL WILD CARD WATCH
With just 3 games to go....

WC #1
Mets +1

WC #2
Giants
Cardinals -1

 

[Tai Chi≈Surfing]

• Bruce, Gsellman move Mets closer to playoff spot, beat Phils


PHILADELPHIA -- Jay Bruce and Robert Gsellman made scoreboard-watching irrelevant for the New York Mets.

Bruce homered for the third straight game and drove in three runs, Gsellman threw six sharp innings and the Mets moved closer to securing a wild-card berth with a 5-1 win over the Philadelphia Phillies on Friday night.

The defending NL champions reduced their magic number to one with two games remaining. The Mets began the night atop the wild-card race, with San Francisco one game back and St. Louis two behind.

Manager Terry Collins and players in the clubhouse didn't pay any attention to televisions airing the Pirates-Cardinals game. Collins said the team had no plans to celebrate regardless of the outcome in St. Louis.

"We had to take care of our own business and we've done that and we have to keep doing that," Collins said.

Gsellman (4-2) scattered seven hits and struck out seven in another strong performance. The rookie right-hander has allowed only three earned runs in his last four starts.



• Celebration nears as Mets trim magic number to one with win


PHILADELPHIA -- After shaving their magic number to one on Friday, the New York Mets elected not to stick around Citizens Bank Park to learn if they would officially secure their second straight postseason berth.

“If it was 1-0,” catcher Travis d'Arnaud said, referring to the score of the game between the St. Louis Cardinals and Pittsburgh Pirates, which would determine if the Mets clinched a wild-card spot, “maybe our minds would have changed.”

Surging Jay Bruce drove in three runs and the Mets took care of their business, beating the Philadelphia Phillies 5-1.

The Mets then packed up and returned to their hotel rather than wait at the ballpark for a potential champagne-filled celebration. The Cardinals, whose game at Busch Stadium started an hour later than the Mets' game, already had taken a sizable late lead on the Pirates. A St. Louis loss would have clinched a wild-card bid for the Mets.

With Friday’s win, the Mets (86-74) moved a season-high 12 games over .500 and assured they would participate in at least a play-in game.

 

[Tai Chi≈Surfing]

•Morning Briefing: Happy clinch day (maybe)!

PHILADELPHIA -- On Aug. 19, the New York Mets sat two games under .500 and 5½ games out of the second wild-card spot.

Since that point, they have produced the best record in the majors and are on the verge of clinching a postseason berth.

With their magic number at one, the Mets (86-74) can secure their second straight trip to the playoffs -- and a home wild-card game -- by beating thePhiladelphia Phillies on Saturday at Citizens Bank Park.

Bartolo Colon (14-8, 3.42 ERA) opposes right-hander Phil Klein (0-1, 8.22) in the 1:05 p.m. ET game as the Phillies plan to use a cavalcade of bullpen arms.

Even with a loss, the Mets can clinch a wild-card berth on Saturday if thePittsburgh Pirates beat the St. Louis Cardinals (84-76).

The Cardinals’ win Friday against Pittsburgh delayed the Mets clinching.

 

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Steven Matz's surgery to remove bone spurs in his pitching elbow will he performed Tuesday in New York. Matz confirmed that he needs no surgery for his shoulder impingement, although he will receive a platelet-rich plasma injection in the area during his elbow procedure.

Lucas Duda asked not to play on Saturday. Duda is having difficulty playing back-to-back days as he returns from a four-month absence without rehab games. It is nothing specific to Duda's lower back, Terry Collins said. Instead, Duda simply is experiencing general soreness from ramping up in activity.

Terry Collins insists the Mets are focused in the moment and have not even discussed a postseason roster. Still, Collins did allow that Eric Campbell and Ty Kelly would be strong considerations to start at first base against a left-hander such as Madison Bumgarner over lefty-hitting Lucas Duda or James Loney.

 

[Tai Chi≈Surfing]

The New York Mets have clinched a National League wildcard berth. They will face the Giants or Cardinals on Wednesday at Citi Field.