Morning Briefing: Mets Bully Philly Bullpen in NLDS Opener

Good morning, Mets fans! Nice day to go playoff pumpkin picking. Just make it home in time for the game.

Mark Vientos and Brandon Nimmo hit back-to-back RBI singles to highlight a five-run, eighth inning outburst and the Mets took Game 1 of the National League Division Series 6-2 over the Philadelphia Phillies. Kodai Senga tossed two innings in his first action since July 26, struck out three and gave up a home run to Kyle Schwarber.

“We know we’re good and we got good players,” manager Carlos Mendoza said postgame. “And we are executing. So we just continue to grind at-bats, continue to take it one pitch, one at-bat at at time and, you know, good things will happen.”

The glaring difference in the game was the bullpens. Mets relief: seven innings, one run, four hits. Phillies relief: two innings, six runs, seven hits. You can read the MMO recap here.

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Jeff McNeil will return to the team Sunday and begin baseball activities. The team hopes he progresses well enough to be included on a potential LCS or World Series roster. McNeil broke his wrist when he was hit by a pitch on Sept. 6.

With the Game 1 victory, the Mets became the third team in National League history to win back-to-back playoff games after trailing in the eighth inning or later, per FOX Sports. The other two teams were the 1980 Phillies and the 1999 Mets.

Per Sarah Langs of MLB, the Mets entered the postseason 6-27 all-time in the playoffs when trailing entering the eighth inning. They are 2-0 this year. The only other teams with more than two such wins in one postseason: 1996 Yankees (5), 1980 Phillies (4), 2015 Royals (3), 1986 Mets (3).

More from Sarah Langs: Playoff teams are 12-60 when held to one hit or less through seven innings. The Mets win on Saturday was the first victory of that kind in 12 years. One of the others was the Mets’ 7-6 win over the Houston Astros in Game 6 of the 1986 NLCS.

Luis Severino (11-7, 3.91 ERA) faces Cristopher Sánchez (11-9, 3.32 ERA) in NLDS Game 2 at 4:08 p.m. ET at Citizens Bank Park. The game will air on FS1.

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Gleyber Torres homered to help lift the Yankees to a 6-5 victory over the Royals in an ALDS Game 1 that saw five lead changes.

In Cleveland, Lane Thomas hit a three-run homer in a five-run first inning and the Guardians defeated the Tigers 7-0 in ALDS Game 1.

In Los Angeles, Shohei Ohtani went 2-for-5 with a three-run homer in his first playoff game as the Dodgers beat the Padres 7-5 in NLDS Game 1.

Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said that Clayton Kershaw‘s season is over because his toe injury isn’t improving. The 36-year-old future Hall of Famer went 2-2 with a 4.50 ERA this year in seven starts.

Yu Darvish (7-3, 3.31 ERA) goes Sunday for the Padres against Jack Flaherty (13-7, 3.17 ERA) in NLDS Game 2 at Dodger Stadium at 8:03 p.m. ET on FS1. The American League playoffs resume on Monday.

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Christian De Block previewed the NLDS, highlighting Starling Marte as a potential difference maker.

Prediction time: Five MMO staffers think the Mets are going to the NLCS. Someone should go check in on the three who do not believe.

Patrick Glynn had the NLDS roster announcement that included the Senga surprise.

On This Date in Mets History

1999: Rickey Henderson, age 40, steals three bases in a 7-1 loss to the Arizona Diamondbacks in Game 2 of the NLDS. Todd Pratt, who would have an impact later on in this series, went 0-for-1.

1973: Tom Seaver strikes out 13 and goes 1-for-3 with an RBI double, but gives up a solo homer to Pete Rose in the eighth inning and a walk-off homer to Johnny Bench in the ninth as the Mets drop Game 1 of the NLCS to the Cincinnati Reds, 2-1.

1969: The Mets beat the Atlanta Braves 7-4 to complete a three-game sweep in the first-ever National League Championship Series. Tommie Agee, Ken Boswell and Wayne Garrett each homered and Nolan Ryan went 2-for-4 and tossed seven innings in relief for his first career playoff victory.

Born On This Date: Joe Frazier (1922), Robert Person (1969), Darren Oliver (1970), Gary Gentry (1946), Gene Clines (1946), Jerry Grote (1942).

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