By Loveth 
As the Mets get ready to face off against the Phillies for the first time since last year’s NLDS, Francisco Lindor isn’t sugarcoating things—he knows Philly is legit.
“They’ve got a great team, great hitters, strong pitching—we just have to stay focused and play our game,” Lindor said before Monday’s opener.
The Mets are coming off a strong sweep of the Cardinals and sit at 13-7, tied for second-most wins in the National League. The Phillies are 11-9 and looking to bounce back after blowing a late lead to the Marlins.
There’s still a lot of season left, but this series already feels intense. “Every game matters,” said Brandon Nimmo. “They didn’t like how last year ended, and I’m sure they’re coming in with a chip on their shoulder.”
Lindor’s been heating up, too—he homered twice against St. Louis and has been a spark at the top of the lineup. Juan Soto is finding his rhythm, Pete Alonso is an RBI machine, and the Mets are getting key contributions even with some injuries.
The Phillies have firepower of their own—Harper, Turner, Schwarber—but their bullpen has been shaky. Former Met Zack Wheeler is set to pitch, adding a little extra drama to the rivalry.
Wheeler says it’s all business now. Lindor, though, made it clear the Mets are all in: “Doesn’t matter who we’re playing. We’ve got to bring it.”
Monday’s game kicks off with Aaron Nola on the mound against a hot Mets lineup. The NL East race won’t be decided this week—but this series could definitely shake things up.