NLDS Game Three Preview: Phillies-Mets

Can Aaron Nola recapture the May Magic that led him to throw a four-hit complete game shutout at Citi Field? First pitch tonight from Queens at 5:08PM on FS1.

NEW YORK -- Views from Phillies-Mets are already in classic with the first postseason match-up between the two storied franchises.

With Philadelphia's bats going quiet, aside from a Kyle Schwarber leadoff home run, New York looked like a team that was ready to make quick work of the Philly bullpen throughout the short series. Zach Wheeler tossed a gem, but the Mets took game one, 6-2.

In game two, Bryce Harper and Nick Castellanos added notches to their playoff heroics. With the Phillies down 3-0 in the sixth inning, the duo went back-to-back and ignited the crowd at Citizen Bank Park knotting up the contest and spoiling Luis Severino's strong start.

What followed was a rollercoaster. Brandon Nimmo put the Mets ahead in the seventh with a home run off Orion Kerkering, but the Phillies rallied in the eighth. Celebrating his 27th birthday, Bryson Stott laced a 3-2 slider to right, allowing Harper and Castellanos to score and put Philadelphia up 6-4. Just when the Phillies seemed set to win, Mets’ Mark Vientos hit a two-run homer in the ninth to tie it up.

The tension rose as Mets’ Tylor Megill walked Trea Turner and Harper with two outs in the bottom of the ninth. Castellanos stepped up and delivered, hammering a hanging slider for the walk-off. His clutch hit gave Philly the crucial series-evening win.

Quick Pitch - What You Need to Know:

Game 3 will be played at 5:08 p.m. ET on Tuesday at Citi Field. It will be televised on FS1. All games are available in the U.S. on MLB.TV

Pitching Matchup:

The stage is set for Game 3 of the Phillies-Mets NLDS showdown, with two starters who bring impressive records into this critical matchup.

Phillies: Aaron Nola (14-8, 3.57 ERA) is aiming to replicate his shutout performance from May at Citi Field. Nola has historically performed well against the Mets and has excelled in early playoff rounds, although his record dips in later stages.

Mets: Sean Manaea (12-6, 3.47 ERA) has transformed his season since July, ending with a 3.09 ERA in his last 12 starts. Manaea faced challenges against the Phillies earlier this year but comes off a solid Wild Card outing, making this an intriguing contest of adjustments and execution.

Starting Lineups:

Philadelphia Phillies -

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. Edmundo Sosa, 2B
8. Austin Hays, LF
9. Johan Rojas, CF

New York Mets -

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

Song of the Day: Free Mason - Rick Ross ft. Jay-Z and John Legend