Bryson Stott, Brandon Marsh out of lineup for Game 3 vs. lefty

The NLDS has shifted to Queens, New York for Game 3 between the Phillies and Mets, and the Phils will be sending out their third different lineup of the postseason.

In Game 2, Alec Bohm was sent to the bench. This time, Bryson Stott and Brandon Marsh are left out of the lineup. This is due to the Mets’ starting pitcher, left-hander Sean Manaea. Austin Hays will start in left field in place of Marsh, and Edmundo Sosa will fill in at second for Stott.

No one should be surprised by this. Rob Thomson has been doing this all season, and rightfully so. Marsh started just 16 games this season against a lefty and Stott started 30. Marsh is hitting .192 with a .552 OPS vs. lefties, and Stott’s average against southpaws is .223, with an OPS of .595.

Meanwhile, Hays hit .354 with a .941 OPS this season vs. lefties and Sosa batted .284 with an .861 OPS.

Stott and Marsh will presumably enter the game once Manaea’s night is done.

Manaea has been huge for the Mets since July when he changed his arm angle. That led to immense sensation. The Mets have won 10 of his last 11 starts while he pitched to a 2.63 ERA.

Here is the full Phillies’ starting lineup, which Bohm returns to after being benched on Sunday for Game 2:

1. Kyle Schwarber DH
2. Trea Turner SS
3. Bryce Harper 1B
4. Nick Castellanos RF
5. Alec Bohm 3B
6. J.T. Realmuto C
7. Austin Hays LF
8. Edmundo Sosa 2B
9. Johan Rojas CF

Aaron Nola will get the start for the Phillies. While he may be the typical Game 2 starter, the Phils rather Cristopher Sanchez, whose ERA on the road is six-plus, pitch at home. He was great Sunday, allowing just two runs in five innings and putting the Phillies in a position to win it, 7-6.

Thomson also trusts Nola on the road to handle the hostile environment that comes with playing at Citi Field. This is the first Mets home NLDS game since 2015, they are on a historic underdog run, and they are playing unbelievable baseball. The building is going to be insane. But Nola will be unaffected by the noise and not scared of the moment Tuesday night.

Nola’s made 14 career starts at Citi Field. He has a 2.52 ERA in the last 12 starts. He tied a major-league record there in 2021 with 10 consecutive strikeouts and threw a four-hit shutout back in May.

Of course, this will be a whole different ballgame. This Mets team is much different than the one in May. But in the postseason, Nola dials in. He has an ERA of 3.70 and 50 strikeouts in nine playoff starts. In the NLDS, specifically, he is 2-0 with a 1.54 ERA.

But he struggles on the road. In three road starts in October, Nola is 1-1 with an ERA of 6.32. However, he has not pitched a road playoff game since 2022. Nola’s experience will certainly help guide his path in Queens Tuesday night.

If the Phillies want a chance to take a 2-1 series lead, they are going to need dynamic stuff from Nola.

Here is the Mets’ starting lineup:

1. Francisco Lindor SS
2. Mark Vientos 3B
3. Brandon Nimmo LF
4. Pete Alonso 1B
5. Jose Iglesias 2B
6. Jesse Winker DH
7. Starling Marte RF
8. Tyrone Taylor CF
9. Francisco Alvarez C

There be no pregame show Tuesday. We will be back tomorrow with one.

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