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Nick Castellanos issues a warning for the Mets ahead of NLDS Game 4
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Nick Castellanos issues a warning for the Mets ahead of NLDS Game 4

The Mets don’t want to feel the brotherly love again.

That’s the warning Phillies outfielder Nick Castellanos issued to his rivals, as the Phillies now face Elimination Game 4 on Wednesday, with the Mets leading the NLDS 2-1 after Tuesday’s 7-2 win.

“Instead of just throwing it away and forgetting about it, I think it’s really important to embrace the situation,” Castellanos said after the loss in Game 3. “We lose, we go home. Baseball is over for us.

“This is a great opportunity because if we can get a win here, I know they won’t want to come back to Philly for Game 5.”

Castellanos is certainly right, although it may just be an attempt to rally the squad after a lifeless performance on Tuesday.

The Phillies have one of the best home-court advantages in MLB after losing 54-27 at Citizens Bank Park this season, and theoretically Zack Wheeler should have been waiting for them in Game 5.

Wheeler dominated the Mets in Game 1 before the bullpen took the lead as the Mets won 6-2 and the Phillies would certainly have the advantage at home.


Nick Castellanos hopes the Phillies can return to Philadelphia for Game 5.
Nick Castellanos hopes the Phillies can return to Philadelphia for Game 5. Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images

But the Phillies have to get there first, and that’s because of Castellanos and an anemic offense that’s showing signs of life.

Philadelphia has scored just one run in the first five innings of each of the three games (15 innings total) and appears to have no answer for the Mets’ starting lineup.

This statistic is even more devastating given that Kyle Schwarber’s lone home run came in Game 1.


Follow the Post’s coverage of the Mets in the postseason:


Castellanos, the hero of Game 2, had a chance to deal another devastating blow to the Mets on Tuesday night when he came to the plate in the sixth with two on and one out in a 2-0 game.

Instead, he launched a double play on a low liner and the Mets scored two runs in the bottom of the inning to essentially put the game on ice.

If Castellanos and the Phillies’ offense, which is slashing .204/.304/.337/.641 in the series, doesn’t show more fight in Game 4, its threat will be for naught.


It's difficult to play at Citizens Bank Park in October.
It’s difficult to play at Citizens Bank Park in October. Laurence Kesterson/UPI/Shutterstock

“Well, as a group, we’re the closest we’ve ever come to death, so in some ways we should be feeling the most alive,” Castellanos said. “We’re only promised tomorrow, and this is what we’ve been working towards since spring training, to get this opportunity. It’s just a matter of showing up again and leaving everything on the board, and however the dice land, they will land.”

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