Meet the Mets

Zack Wheeler was dominant, but the Mets defeated the Phillies 6-2 and won Game 1 of the NLDS thanks to a five-run eighth inning against the Phillies bullpen. Aside from an absolutely monster home run from Kyle Schwarber, Kodai Senga delivered a strong performance in his return for the Mets, striking out three and striking out one in two innings of work. David Peterson benefited from Senga's performance and shined himself, pitching three one-hit innings for the Mets, striking out one batter and issuing three walks to keep the game 1-0 until the late innings. Reed Garrett secured the victory with his two scoreless innings of relief in the sixth and seventh. After the Mets took the lead in the eighth, Phil Maton pitched a scoreless finish in the eighth. Ryne Stanek led off the ninth with a run, but the Mets had given him enough breathing room – including a sure run in the bottom of the ninth – that it had no consequence and the Mets took a 1-0 lead into Game 2 in Philadelphia Series.

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“The New York Mets exist for the moments when those of lesser value and condition collapse,” writes ESPN’s Jeff Passan.

Another factor in yesterday's game was the afternoon shadows, which affected the Mets hitters' ability to see the ball out of Zack Wheeler's hand and likely affected the home plate umpire as well.

Before yesterday's game, the Mets announced their NLDS roster, adding Kodai Senga and Tylor Megill and dropping Max Kranick and Huascar Brazobán, who were on the Wild Card Series roster.

At this point, the evidence can't be ignored: Don't sleep on the Mets, writes MLB.com's Anthony DiComo.

Avengers gather! First, the Mets got Kodai Senga back. Could Jeff McNeil be next? He returns to the Mets in Philadelphia today to step up his baseball activities and try to come back from a broken wrist in time for a possible NLCS or World Series.

After his breakout season this year, Mark Vientos spoke with Nelson Cruz about making the Dominican Republic's 2026 World Baseball Classic roster.

Around the National League East

“Obviously I feel like we wasted that start on offense,” Bryce Harper said said after yesterday's game about Zack Wheeler's performance.

Kyle Schwarber's first-inning home run broke a Phillies postseason franchise record.

There's a good chance the Marlins' next manager has ties to Peter Bendix and has qualities that make Bendix believe he'll be an effective leader, Barry Jackson reports Miami Herald. Anibal Sanchez is among the former Marlins who have expressed interest in the job.

All about Major League Baseball

The Guardians defeated the Tigers 7-0 in Game 1 of the ALDS yesterday afternoon as opener Tyler Holton failed to record a single out and the Guardians lost a fifth to Detroit in the first inning.

The Yankees won a ping pong affair with the Royals 6-5 in the first game of the ALDS at Yankee Stadium. The game featured five lead changes and after a controversial replay review call, Alex Verdugo delivered the go-ahead RBI in the seventh that was the difference in the game.

Marcus Stroman didn't make the Yankees' ALDS squad.

In the West Coast Division (NLDS) rivalry contest, the Dodgers came from behind several times to beat the Padres 7-5 in Game 1 at Dodger Stadium. Yoshinobu Yamamoto wasn't having it and the Padres overwhelmed him with three early runs, including a home run by Manny Machado, but Shohei Ohtani hit a game-winning home run off Dylan Cease. Because of course he did. When the Padres took the lead for the second time, Teoscar Hernández delivered a key RBI hit, putting the Dodgers back in the lead.

A bone spur on his big toe has ruled Clayton Kershaw out for the remainder of the postseason, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said yesterday.

Yesterday on Amazin' Avenue

I've written about how happy I am that Pete Alonso's career with the Mets didn't end sadly.

This date in Mets history

On this day in 1969, the Mets made it to the World Series for the first time in franchise history.