The Mets don't want to feel brotherly love again.
That was a warning from Phillies outfielder Nick Castellanos to his rivals. After Tuesday's 7-2 win, the Mets lead the Nationals 2-1 heading into Wednesday's elimination Game 4 against the Phillies.
“I think it’s really important to accept the current situation and not just brush it off and forget about it.” After the loss in Game 3, Castellanos said:. “We lost, so we’re going home. Baseball is over for us.
“This is a great opportunity, because if we can come here and get a win, we know they don't want to go back to Philadelphia for Game 5.”
Castellanos certainly makes a valid point, although it may just be an attempt to rally the troops after Tuesday's lackluster showing.
The Phillies are 54-27 at Citizens Bank Park this season, owning one of the best home-field advantages in MLB and theoretically having Zack Wheeler on hand for Game 5. I'm going to do it.
In Game 1, Wheeler dominated the Mets, and his bullpen took the lead in a 6-2 Mets victory, and the Phillies were certain to have the advantage at home.
But the Phillies have to get there first, which means Castellanos and the anemic offense show signs of life.
Philadelphia has scored just one run in the first five innings of each of the three games (15 total innings), and the Mets appear to have no answer for their starting pitching.
This statistic is even more egregious considering that Kyle Schwarber's go-ahead home run in Game 1 led to the only points scored.
Follow The Post's postseason coverage of the Mets:
Castellanos, the hero of Game 2, stepped up to bat in the sixth inning with two on and one out in a 2-0 game Tuesday night, with a chance to inflict more damage on the Mets.
Instead, he hit a low liner into a double play, and the Mets added two runs in the bottom of the inning, effectively stopping the game.
Castellanos, who is batting .204/.304/.337/.641 in the series, and the Phillies offense will have to put in more effort in Game 4, his threat will be wasted. Dew.
“Well, as a group, this is the closest we've ever been to death, so in some ways we should feel the most alive,” Castellanos said. “Tomorrow is all we're promised, and that's what we've been working on since spring training to get this opportunity. Just one more time, we're going to leave it all on the field and no matter how the dice land, it's going to land. I will.”
