3 adjustments the Mets need to make before a pivotal NLDS Game 3

I was three years old when the New York Mets won the World Series in 1986. I remember the Subway Series with the Yankees in 2000, and I was in Citi Field when Matt Harvey pitched the game of his life, until it wasn't, and the Royals celebrated their first championship in 30 years.

I've loved the Mets as long as I can remember, so believe me that I don't say this lightly — This has been the most exciting week of Mets baseball that I've ever experienced. The only thing that comes close, in my opinion, is when Daniel Murphy transformed into the modern day Babe Ruth to carry the Mets to the National League pennant in 2015, but even Murph's magic can't compare to the continued late-game heroics we've seen lately.

I drove down to Atlanta last Monday to see the Amazins come back from 3-0 down in a winner-gets-in game against the Braves. Even the 6-3 lead they built wasn't enough, as the Braves stormed back to go back ahead 7-6. Then Francisco Lindor justified all the much-deserved MVP talk by hitting a ninth-inning homer to send the Mets to the postseason.

As we've all seen, the Mets weren't just happy to be there. Despite zero days rest, they rallied to take Game 1 against Milwaukee, and even though they gave up a late lead to lose Game 2 and trailed 2-0 in the ninth inning against Brewers closer extraordinaire Devin Williams, they kept fighting. Lindor led off with a hit. Brandon Nimmo followed. And then Pete Alonso mushed, with apologies to Todd Pratt, the biggest home run in franchise history.

Why am I recapping the last week of Mets baseball? Because it's honestly been one of the greatest (if also the most stressful) weeks of my life as a sports fan. This is a time that I and thousands of Mets fans will be replaying and retelling for years to come.

I don't want it to end, and I know the Mets can beat the Phillies. I saw it in Game 1, when they overcame an all-time gem from former Met Zack Wheeler to obliterate a good Philly bullpen for six runs in two innings. I saw it in Game 2, when Brandon Nimmo smoked one over the right field wall to take the lead back after the Phillies rallied to tie the game. I saw it when Mark Vientos hit a towering homer in the ninth to shock Matt Strahm and tie the game.

On a macro level, you have to love what this team is doing. The Mets are never out of it, and the way they can lock in at the end of games has reduced good bullpens to dust. As exciting as these late-game rallies have been, though, they wouldn't be possible without the unsung work being done by the pitching staff. Luis Severino pitched a tremendous game his last time out. David Peterson kept the Mets within a run when Wheeler was dealing. Jose Quintana was incredible against the Brewers. The list goes on and on.

The Phillies aren't going to back down though, as we saw when they erased deficits two different times and then Nick Castellanos won the game with two outs in the ninth. Make no mistake, this is a war, and with only three games at most remaining in this series, every little detail is going to matter.

It's crunch time now, and the good news is that the Mets finally get to play at home for the first time in over two weeks. The atmosphere at Citi Field is going to be flat-out bonkers, and for a team that has played nothing but big games lately, I think they'll be ready to rise to the occasion. Here are some small adjustments that can put them over the top.