/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/73628468/2175991716.0.jpg?w=640&ssl=1)
The Mets and Phillies Share the Same Weakness in the NLDS
Through the first two games of the NLDS, the New York Mets and Philadelphia Phillies have shown that their weakness lies with their bullpen.
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA – OCTOBER 05: Matt Strahm #25 of the Philadelphia Phillies leaves the game against the New York Mets during the eighth inning of Game One of the Division Series at Citizens Bank Park on October 05, 2024 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Hunter Martin/Getty Images)
While they are bitter division rivals, the New York Mets and the Philadelphia Phillies are more alike than they are different. Especially this year.
Two teams built around star-studded lineups, the Mets and Phillies have proven that they have some of the most firepower in baseball. These teams were both ranked in the top 10 in runs scored, home runs, OPS and wRC+ during the regular season.
During Game 2 of the NLDS, we saw those lineups going back-and-forth in a classic playoff game, where the Phillies scored three runs to tie the game in the 6th, only for the Mets to go up in the 7th, the Phillies to go up in the 8th, the Mets to tie it in the top of the 9th, before Philly walked it off in the bottom half to even the series.
These lineups have proven that they can score at will when they see the right matchups, and so far this series, most of those hitter-friendly at-bats have come late in games. In fact, 18 of the 21 runs scored across Game 1 and 2 in Philly came in the 6th inning or later.
These late-inning barrages have showed a potential Achilles heel that each of these teams share. And that is the real concern about who is getting big outs for them out of the bullpen.
Teams Led by Their Starting Pitching
Another interesting similarity between the Mets and Phillies is how much they leaned on their starting pitching throughout the 2024 season. Both teams finished in the top-five in MLB when it comes to innings pitched by their starters, with each rotation pitching to a sub 4.00 ERA.
The Phillies had the better rotation, led by Zack Wheeler, Cristopher Sanchez and Aaron Nola, along with a great first half from All-Star Ranger Suarez. The Phillies starters pitched to a 3.81 ERA.
In New York, a group that leaned heavily on Sean Manaea, Luis Severino, Jose Quintana and David Peterson combined to pitch to a 3.91 ERA. The Mets starters outperformed the Phillies from June on by a wide margin, pitching to a 3.67 ERA compared to a 4.51 ERA.
The same could be said when it comes to the Phillies to start the season however, as they had the best rotation in baseball up until June, having pitched to an MLB-best 2.69 ERA through the month of May.
Regardless of how their seasons broke down, the Mets and Phillies entered this series feeling good about the innings that would be able to get from their starting pitching, based on their performance this year and track record in the past.
