GDT 9/18/24 Philadelphia Phillies (Nola, Aa) @ Milwaukee Brewers (Peralta, F)

[HopeSpringsEternal]

What about the Mets-Phillies series coming up?

With all the angst about our #5 starter, wouldn’t it be be something if Walker out-pitches Severino in the series opener tomorrow.

[Aquapong]

Not super hopeful about Walker, but someone has to give the other 4 a break. As it is, Sanchez is probably the #3 starter in the playoffs right now.

[zambonir]

We could lose three of these games in Queens and the division would still be easily wrapped up after (though that would not be good for the top seeds). Whereas the Met-Braves series should be do-or-die for one of them to make or miss the playoffs completely. But I guess we'll have some say in that as well. Braves will be rooting for us these next four nights.

[Philsmania]

Dodgers play the Rockies six times in the last ten games. I'm afraid they'll be getting the top seed now.

[zambonir]

I'm sure they are just as capable of losing to the Rockies as we are to the A's or Marlins. (And also we're capable of beating up on the Cubs and Nats.)

Plus they have their own problems, and are 8-8 this month (we're 11-5).

Not sure it matters anyway. The NLDS opponent is going to be tough from either side, and the Dodgers may not be the NLCS opponent (which they can say about us too).

[EastFallowfield]

It's only been two playoff seasons with the 3rd wild card, but the last two NLCS didn't include either top seed, we should know!

[zambonir]

Right not only did the 1-2 fail to come out of the NLCS both years but the 6 seed won it both times (Phillies over #5 SD, #6 AZ over #4 Phillies).

I reserve the right to change my mind after the next four games because I realize the Mets are also this year's hot team, but they are the team I'd be least leary of facing in NLDS. So if it's them the 1 seed looks good instead of playing SD or AZ. If it's the Braves, feels like more of a toss-up to me due to their pitching (and LHP specifically).

But maybe this is the year the 3 seed actually plays in the NLDS.

[Philsmania]

The Mets are not that hot...they are 6-4 in their last ten, hardly barnburning though they have won three straight. From here on out, the Mets have a very tough schedule--Phillies, Braves and Brewers. Phillies schedule gets progressively easier--Mets then Cubs then Nationals.

Nobody in the NL is particularly hot. A few 6-4 last ten teams but that's it. The hottest team in baseball right now is the Tigers at 8-2 and only a half game out of the last wildcard.

[zambonir]

Right they are not short-term hot but I believe they have the best second-half record in MLB, and the best record over the last 30 games (random Google, but 21-9 same as the Tigers, who have maybe passed them for second half overall. Happily the Phillies are third). Which means you can argue that, like the 2022 Phillies, they are stronger than their full-season record shows (though that argument did not work at all for the Dbacks last year).

I'd still fear the Braves more, but the Mets are not the '23 Marlins either.