Philadelphia Phillies by 2
In this bout of stickball – or as some like to call it, baseball – we've got the Philadelphia Phillies clamoring to take on the New York Mets on the Mets' home turf at Citi Field in Queens, NY. Now, let's take a gander at some numbers shall we?
We've got Taijuan Walker toeing the rubber for the Phillies. This fella's got himself a 6.50 ERA and 1.68 WHIP this season. It's safe to say opposing batters have taken him to town a time or two. On the other pillbox, the Mets have sent Luis Severino to the mound – with a 3.97 ERA and 1.25 WHIP, he's the clear front runner on this day. Or as clear as things get in this game.
The Phillies lineup is a rowdy bunch. You've got Harper, Realmuto, and Schwarber hitting over a quarter. Harper's bat is remarkably well polished, with a .324 average and 11 RBIs. Realmuto is another troublesome character for pitchers. And then, there's the small matter of Schwarber making a habit of rounding the bases with 7 home runs. Their fellow Phillie, Castellanos, well...his performance has been underwhelming with a .206 average and I'll leave it at that.
Now, let's think Mets, shall we? With Iglesias, Taylor, Alonso, and Vientos in their batting order, they've got their own group of bruisers. Iglesias is showcasing a .304 average, whilst Alonso's 6 home runs are a statement that can't be ignored - it's like shouting in a library, really. Vientos also contributes with 5 home runs, and Taylor knows how to get around the bases with a pair of stolen bases.
Looking at their recent kerfuffles, Phillies and Mets have had their fair share of back-and-forths. Out of the last 5 games, it's been a bit of a see-saw, but the Phillies have gotten the best of the Metropolitan's more often than not. Although the breakdown favors Philadelphia, let's not forget that home field advantage, Mets fans, can be as comforting as mama's apple pie.
The regular season record for these blokes is close, but no cigar. Phillies are sitting pretty with 91 wins and 61 losses against the Mets' modest 84 wins and 68 losses.
Lacing this all together, with the very strict condition that this doesn't get back to me, I'd say the Mets have a fighting chance, but the Phillies are looking sharp. Take it with a dash of salt, but Phillip's upper hand in the pitching department and their solid performance on the field shows a glimmer of victory. But then, what do I know? I just comment on a game I failed to play professionally.
Albert’s Prediction: Philadelphia Phillies by 2