Sure, it’s early. But baseball’s postseason is off to a roaring start, and Sunday’s NLDS action was no exception. To get around it, let’s wrap up all of the day’s action, including an instant classic in Philadelphia and a thrilling loss in Los Angeles. Then we name our three advancers and three decliners – the day’s best and worst performers – before identifying the biggest factors in Monday’s ALDS games.

Around the Horn

Phillies 7, Mets 6

In a wild back-and-forth affair, the Phillies outlasted the Mets and saved a split in the first two games of the best-of-five NLDS. The game featured five lead changes and six home runs, four of which came from the Mets. The Mets’ Mark Vientos tied the game with a two-run pitch in the bottom of the ninth before Nick Castellanos’ heroics gave Philly the walk-off victory.

The epic Phillies victory featured the full experience of Nick Castellanos, from boos to backstop luck

Mets’ Edwin Díaz struggles in Game 2 but feels “fine” after recent heavy use.

Padres 10, Dodgers 2

There may have been a lot of drama on the field, but there was never much doubt about who would win. The Padres jumped out to a two-point lead in Game 1, but faced the Dodgers in Game 2. They continued to highlight the Dodgers’ weak pitching. Five Padres hit a home run – Fernando Tatis Jr. did it twice – and Yu Darvish was untouchable.

The teams perk up in Game 2; Padres’ Jurickson Profar trolls Dodgers after robbing personnel department

Dodgers’ Freddie Freeman leaves Game 2 with ankle trouble

Three up

Phillies bats roar to life

A day after they managed just two runs in a Game 1 loss, the Phillies’ offense returned to form. Maybe it was the week-long break following a first-round bye, but Phillies hitters were also silent for the first five innings against Mets starter Luis Severino before Bryce Harper’s two-run throw in the sixth gave them a much-needed jolt. Castellanos followed two pitches later with his first big hit of the game, a solo home run off Severino to make it 3-3. In the eighth, with Harper and Castellanos facing a 4-3 deficit, they scored again, with Harper drawing a one-out walk and Castellanos singled to Bryson Stott, who belted a triple to right field and gave the Phillies a 5-4 lead. Castellanos finished the game 3:5 with two mammoth goals. The centerpiece of the Phillies lineup — Trea Turner, Harper, Castellanos and Stott — went 8-for-16.

Mark Vientos breaks out

Vientos had a few breakdowns, including a booted ball that cost his team a run and a collision that rattled his teammate Brandon Nimmo. But without Vientos’ two home runs, the Mets wouldn’t have even had a chance late in the game. He finished the game 3-for-4 with a walk, leading the Mets’ offense.

You have to believe

He may be 38 years old, but Yu Darvish is a timeless wonder. This was the 12th and arguably best postseason start of his playoff career. He needed 82 pitches to complete seven innings and allow one run. Darvish famously imploded during his World Series Game 7 for the Dodgers in 2017, allowing five runs over 1 2/3 innings. Darvish, now pitching for his rival, was outstanding. With two games and two days off left in this series, Darvish will be ready to pitch the series-clinching game should the need arise. This is a nice pocket option.

Yu Darvish held the Dodgers down. (Harry How/Getty Images)

Three down

No relief for Mets

The Mets’ relievers kept a strong Phillies offense at bay in Game 1, but couldn’t do it for the second day in a row. After José Butto recorded two outs in the seventh, the Mets turned to Edwin Díaz for seven outs, but he only managed two. He struck out one to end the seventh and another to open the eighth before allowing three straight baserunners. Díaz walked to Harper, gave up the single to Castellanos and the clutch two-run triple to Stott. After a busy day for the bullpen on Saturday, Mets manager Carlos Mendoza was forced to turn to Tylor Megill, a starter who was pitching in relief. In the ninth, Megill got two outs but then allowed walks to Turner and Harper before Castellanos’ heroics.

Edwin Díaz faces the Phillies. (Terence Lewis/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

Rotation problems for Dodgers

This has always been an area of ​​concern, and the first two games of the NLDS have done nothing to address this. If anything, Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Jack Flaherty were supposed to be the only truly reliable starters, and even they underperformed. Flaherty allowed two home runs in the first three innings. His shaky final line consisted of 5 1/3 innings, four earned runs allowed and just two strikeouts. That happened one night after Yamamoto was tackled, leading manager Dave Roberts to wonder if the right-hander was making a pitch tip.

Fans are getting restless in LA

We should make sure that 99 percent of Dodgers fans are not included in this criticism. But for the one percent it was well deserved. The game was stopped for 10 minutes in the seventh inning and stadium security asked the Padres’ outfielders to move away from the walls while fans threw trash and at least one baseball onto the turf. The ball appeared to have been thrown directly to left fielder Jurickson Profar, who robbed a home run in the first inning.

Monday on deck

Tigers at Guardians. 4:08 p.m. (ET), TBS
The Guardians lead the series 1-0
DET Tarik Skubal (18-4, 2.39 ERA) vs. CLE Matthew Boyd (2-2, 2.72 ERA)

Royals at the Yankees. 7:38 p.m. (ET), TBS
The Yankees lead the series 1-0
KC Cole Ragans (11-9, 3.14 ERA) vs. NYY Carlos Rodón (16-9, 3.96 ERA)

Tips to click on

Tarik Skubal against the Guardians

Skubal is the favorite for the American League Cy Young Award and the pressure is on for him to even the series against the Guardians after a tough Game 1 in the Tigers’ bullpen. The Detroit left-hander dominated nearly every team he faced this season, although the Guardians did yield a season-high 10 hits against Skubal in his only start against them this season. Skubal still emerged victorious, allowing one run while striking out six over seven innings on July 22 in Cleveland, his first start after the All-Star break. Eight of the 10 hits were singles, but the Guardians found a way to get on base.

Tarik Skubal during a launch in August. (Duane Burleson/Getty Images)

Salvador Perez vs. Carlos Rodon

The Royals’ offense doesn’t have much power. Their 170 home runs this season were ahead of only the Tigers among postseason teams. But there will be at least one significant home run threat on Monday night. Salvador Perez has won 12 of 26 against Carlos Rodón in his career. The former AL Central rivals have met many times before and it was a one-sided matchup. Perez has hit three career home runs against Yankees left-handers.

(Top photo of Phillies players celebrating on Sunday: Terence Lewis / Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)