3 reasons Phillies fans should panic after losing Game 1 to the Mets in the NLDS

2) The Phillies should panic because the Mets pitching was able to shut them down with ease

Every advantage in the world was on the Phillies’ side. They have better starting pitching. Their bullpen is better, too. You’d be a homer if you would prefer to have the Mets lineup. Even if the regular season results suggest these teams are much closer than it may seem, there’s a reason why they waltzed into the playoffs and the Mets took until game 161 to seal a seat. The Phillies are a better team.

But the Mets only have to be better three times before they are. On Saturday, the Mets hitters were much better—at least for yet another classic late inning rally.

This isn’t about us. This is about them. The Phillies managed only 5 hits. Only Phil Maton in the eighth allowed more than one. Two perfect innings out of Reed Garrett, three important ones from David Peterson in the middle where walks were his biggest issue, and a gobbled up ninth inning by Ryne Stanek accounted for the Mets’ bullpen usage. The dangerous Phillies lineup couldn’t do anything against this rag-tag bunch of pitchers who, frankly, aren’t consistent enough to fear.

In a short five game series against teams as good as the Mets and Phillies, even mediocre pitchers like these guys can stay hot enough for long enough.