2024 MLB Division Series: Phillies and Mets classic; irritation for Padres and Dodgers
Sure, it’s early. But baseball’s postseason is off to a great start, and Sunday’s NLDS action proved to be no exception. We go around the horn by wrapping up all the action of the day, including an instant classic in Philadelphia and a thrilling beatdown in Los Angeles. Then we list our three ups and three downs – the best and worst performers of the day – before identifying the biggest factors in Monday’s ALDS games.
Around the horn
Phillies 7, Mets 6
In a wild back-and-forth affair, the Phillies outlasted the Mets to salvage a split in the first two games of the best-of-five NLDS. The game featured five lead changes and six home runs, four of which came from the Mets. The Mets’ Mark Vientos tied the game with a two-run shot in the top of the ninth before Nick Castellanos’ heroics gave Philly the walk-off victory.
Padres 10, Dodgers 2
There may have been a lot of drama on the field, but there was never much question about who would win. The Padres coughed up a two lead in Game 1, but stomped on the Dodgers in Game 2, continuing to expose the Dodgers’ poor pitching. Five Padres homered – Fernando Tatis Jr. did it twice – and Yu Darvish was untouchable.
Three up
Phillies bats roar to life
One day after allowing just two runs in a Game 1 loss, the Phillies offense returned to form. Maybe it was the week-long layoff after a first-round bye, but the Phillies bats were also quiet for the first five innings against Mets starter Luis Severino before Bryce Harper’s two-run shot in the sixth gave them a much-needed jolt . Castellanos followed two pitches later with his first big hit of the game, a solo homer off Severino that made it 3-3. In the eighth, facing a 4-3 deficit, Harper and Castellanos connected again, with Harper drawing a one-out walk and Castellanos singled to put two on for Bryson Stott, who tripled to right field, which gave the Phillies a 5-4 lead. . Castellanos finished 3-for-5 with the two huge hits. The heart of the Phillies lineup – Trea Turner, Harper, Castellanos and Stott – went 8-for-16.
Mark Vientos breaks out
Vientos had a few down moments, including a booted ball that cost his team a point, and a collision that woke up teammate Brandon Nimmo. But without Vientos’ two home runs, the Mets wouldn’t have even had a chance late in the game. He finished 3-for-4 with a walk to lead the Mets’ offense.
You have to believe
He may be 38 years old, but Yu Darvish is an ageless wonder. This was the 12th and perhaps best postseason start of his playoff career. He needed 82 pitches to go seven innings and allow one run. Darvish famously imploded in his World Series Game 7 start for the Dodgers in 2017, allowing five runs in 1 2/3 innings. Darvish was now pitching for their rival and was excellent. With two more games and two days off built into this series, Darvish will be lined up to throw the deciding game of this series, should the need arise. That’s a nice option to have in your back pocket.
Yu Darvish stopped the Dodgers. (Harry Hoe/Getty Images)
Three down
No relief for Mets
Mets relievers kept a potent Phillies offense at bay in Game 1, but couldn’t do the same for the second day in a row. After José Butto put out two in the seventh, the Mets turned to closer Edwin Díaz for seven outs, but he scored only two. He got one out to end the seventh and another to open the eighth before allowing three straight baserunners. Díaz walked Harper, gave up the single to Castellanos and the clutch two-run triple to Stott. After a tough day for the bullpen on Saturday, Mets manager Carlos Mendoza was forced to turn to Tylor Megill, a starter pitching in relief. In the ninth, Megill got two outs, but then walked Turner and Harper before Castellanos’ heroics.
Edwin Diaz takes on the Phillies. (Terence Lewis/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Rotation issues for Dodgers
This was always going to be a concern, and the first two games of the NLDS have done nothing to alleviate that. Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Jack Flaherty would really be the only truly reliable starters, and even they underperformed. Flaherty allowed two home runs in the first three innings. His shaky finish was 5 1/3 innings, four earned runs allowed and only two strikeouts. That came one night after Yamamoto was beaten up, leaving manager Dave Roberts to wonder if the right-hander was rolling over.
Fans are getting unruly in LA
We have to keep in mind that 99 percent of Dodgers fans are not included in this criticism. But for the 1 percent who are, it was more than deserved. Play was suspended for 10 minutes in the seventh inning and stadium security asked Padres outfielders to move away from the walls as fans threw trash and at least one baseball onto the grass. The ball appeared to be thrown directly to left fielder Jurickson Profar, who robbed a home run in the first inning.
On deck Monday
Tigers at Guardians. 4:08 PM (ET), TBS
Guardians lead series 1-0
DET Tarik Skubal (18-4, 2.39 ERA) vs. CLE Matthew Boyd (2-2, 2.72 ERA)
Royals at Yankees. 7:38 PM (ET), TBS
Yankees lead series 1-0
KC Cole Ragans (11-9, 3.14 ERA) vs. NYY Carlos Rodón (16-9, 3.96 ERA)
Choices to click on
Tarik Skubal vs. the Guardians
Skubal is the American League Cy Young Award favorite and the pressure is on him to tie the series against the Guardians after a rough Game 1 from the Tigers bullpen. The left-hander from Detroit has dominated almost every team he has faced this season, although the Guardians did get 10 hits off Skubal in his only start against them this season. Skubal still came away with the win, allowing one run while striking out six over seven innings in Cleveland on July 22, his first start after the All-Star break. Eight of the ten hits were singles, but the Guardians found a way to get on base.
Tarik Skubal during a start in August. (Duane Burleson/Getty Images)
Salvador Perez vs. Carlos Rodón
The Royals offense doesn’t have much pop. Their 170 home runs this season ranked higher only than the Tigers among postseason teams. But there will be at least one major home run threat on Monday night. Salvador Perez is 12-for-26 against Carlos Rodón in his career. The ex-AL Central rivals have met many times and it was a lopsided match. Perez has three career home runs against the lefty Yankees.
(Top photo of Phillies players celebrating Sunday: Terence Lewis/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
