Three Storylines for a Pivotal NLDS Game 3

The New York Mets are back at Citi Field for a big game Tuesday, you may have heard. A pre-game and post-game block party is planned. Rally towels. Grimace is not throwing out the first pitch (fans will have to settle for Keith Hernandez tossing to John Franco), but there will be an 11-car, “Grimace-wrapped” 7 train departing Manhattan’s Hudson Yards at 1 p.m. bound for Citi Field. (The train is sure to be filled with Mets fans side-by-side with befuddled commuters.)

When the Mets last took the field in Queens, it was against these same Phillies on Sept. 22. The Mets won, 2-1, aided by a lucky bounce off the third-base bag in the ninth inning. Bryson Stott stole and Francisco Alvarez‘s throw hit the base, popped up in the air and stayed on the infield. If the throw eludes Mark Vientos at third, it’s down the left-field line, Stott scores the tying run and who knows?

The Mets may have missed the playoffs. Pete Alonso never picks a playoff pumpkin or homers in Milwaukee. The Phillies might be in Arizona or Atlanta. Rhys Hoskins could still be playing. That was one magic bounce.

Here are three storylines ahead of the first National League Division Series game at Citi Field since 2015.

LINDOR IS BACK

Francisco Lindor‘s last game at Citi Field was exactly one month ago. That was two Gary Cohen “Lindsanity” calls ago. The shortstop broke up Bowden Francis‘ no-hitter in the top of the ninth in a win in Toronto, inspiring Cohen’s first call. The second came in the playoff clincher in Atlanta, when the Mets were two outs away from being forced into a do-or-die Game 162. Some may forget that Lindor’s heroics were necessary because the Mets blew a three-run lead in the eighth inning, which brings us to the second storyline.

CLOSING TIME

It will be a moment to soak in Tuesday if Edwin Díaz enters to a light show, “Narco” blasting, Mr. and Mrs. Met dancing with trumpets in hand, the Mets holding a lead and the stadium set to explode. But will he get the job done? He is not 2022 Sugar. He gave up the lead in Game 2 in Philly. And eight days ago he coughed up the lead in Atlanta. (Has it only been eight days? It feels like eight weeks.) In between, however, he got five big outs in Milwaukee to earn a win and set the stage for the biggest blast of Alonso’s career. Which Díaz shows up?

FAMILIAR FACE AND ARM

Aaron Nola and the Mets go way back. The 31-year-old right-hander is 10-9 with a 3.46 ERA in 28 starts vs. New York. It’s a whole season’s worth of starts! He has 205 strikeouts in 164 innings. In 14 starts at Citi Field, he’s 6-6 with a 3.28 ERA. In two starts this year vs. New York, he’s 1-1 with a 4.05 ERA. In his most recent start against the Mets last month, against pretty much the same lineup he will face on Tuesday, Nola allowed six runs in 4 1/3 innings.

By contrast, Sean Manaea has six career appearances (four starts) against Philadelphia. He is 2-2 with a 5.19 ERA in 26 innings. This year he went 1-1 with a 5.40 ERA in three starts against the Phillies.

ON DECK

After Tuesday’s result, the Mets could be one win away from clinching a playoff series at home for the first time since the 2000 National League Division Series. Or New York will be one loss away from potentially Alonso’s last game in a New York Met uniform. Carlos Mendoza said it best Monday: “You can’t predict baseball, man. You have to enjoy it.”

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