Philadelphia Phillies by 2
And we're coming right back at ya with what's shaping up to be one heckuva match up that's right, we’re stepping foot into the Phillies' territory, Citizens Bank Park, in sunny Philadelphia. The field where dreams of homers are made of and pitchers wake up in cold sweat due to the Park's significant batter-friendliness. You know what they say, what's a nightmare for a pitcher turns out to be a playground for hitters.
Looks like on the mound for the visiting Mets, we have David Peterson. Pretty solid, I'd say with a 3.04 ERA and 7.4 K/9. Although dear Chris Sanchez from the Phillies side says, "Hold my ERA" boasting an even lower 3.33 ERA and stretching out to 7.5 K/9. I wouldn't want to face either in a dark alley, but alas we play on a diamond.
Now, take a gander at some of the names that'll be lighting up the night. On the Mets’ side, our key players, Francisco Lindor and Mark Vientos, have been leaving ballparks in shreds, totaling 15 homers together. And let's not sleep on Jose Iglesias batting a .304. Now the Phillies, well, they've got J.T. Realmuto and Bryce Harper leading the charge with a combined batting average above .320. Schwarber and Trea Turner aren't far behind, both contributing sizable home run figures.
Looking at the recent grappling sessions, we see the teams are well acquainted. The Mets and Phillies have been jostling back and forth, each tasting victory and defeat. The Phillies, however, managed to slip in one more win in their last five showdowns. With the current season record favoring the Phillies 89-59 over the Mets 81-67 and given they're playing in the batter-friendly Citizens Bank Park, Phillies have the upper hand, well at least on paper.
Looking at recent form, both teams have been clashing forwards and backwards and Phillies seem to be holding their ground better. On the other hand, our dear Mets have had a bit of an unfortunate detour on their recent visit to Toronto.
Based on all these wild variables, if I were to place my money on the table I'd be banking on the home advantage and the stronger season performance.
Albert’s Prediction: Philadelphia Phillies by 2.