Mets nonetheless struggling to discover a Bryce Harper answer in NLDS

Luis Severino was warned.

With a runner on first base and Bryce Harper approaching the plate within the sixth inning, pitching coach Jeremy Hefner approached the mound.

“Watch out,” Hefner advised Severino, that means: Don’t give him something to hit. 

Severino lived on the corners and simply off the plate with 4 pitches earlier than he reached two strikes and unleashed the third-fastest pitch of his 2024 season: a 99-mph fastball down the guts of the plate that Harper despatched into orbit for a two-run residence run. 

Two innings later Sunday in Philadelphia, the bases had been empty with one out for Harper.

Edwin Diaz was extra cautious than Severino, throwing 4 straight balls.

Harper reached, hustled to 3rd on a Nick Castellanos single and got here round to attain on Bryson Stott’s go-ahead triple. 

“I went lazy to him as a substitute of attacking him,” Diaz mentioned of his Harper at-bat, tinged with remorse. “Tried to make pitches [for] him to chase.” 

By two video games of a knotted NLDS, whether or not the Mets problem the Phillies’ finest hitter or keep away from him, Harper has discovered a strategy to do harm. 

It’s not a shock that among the finest gamers within the sport — and in October, with a profession 1.024 OPS within the postseason — is proving troublesome to deal with, however the Mets in all probability should unearth a strategy to resolve Harper in the event that they wish to attain the NLCS. 

In Video games 1 and a couple of in opposition to Severino, Diaz, Kodai Senga, David Peterson and Phil Maton, Harper stepped to the plate 9 occasions and reached six.

He has demolished a house run, smacked a double and walked 4 occasions.

Typically the Mets have clearly pitched round him; typically they’ve hoped Harper would get himself out (chasing three balls out of the strike zone in a battle with Peterson); typically they’ve challenged him and misplaced. 

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Some superstars, like Yankees Aaron Decide and Juan Soto, are on-base machines due to a disciplined batting eye.

Harper is completely different, a free-swinger who will broaden the strike zone — and typically blast would-be balls. 

“He can hit something anyplace for energy,” Mets lefty Danny Younger mentioned. “He’s at all times received a plan, and clearly tremendous gifted, among the finest gamers within the sport. You type of simply do your finest to execute and handle him, actually.” 

Younger has confronted Harper 4 occasions — three this season — and held Harper to 1-for-4 with three strikeouts.

It’s potential that lefty bats like Harper’s and Kyle Schwarber’s drive Younger into his postseason debut.

The southpaw was sturdy for the Mets for almost all of the season and held opposing lefties to a .527 OPS, however he tumbled in September and fell down the bullpen depth chart.

Younger — and maybe David Peterson, who has pitched twice in reduction in bulkier spots — are the lone southpaw choices out of the Mets bullpen. 

Whoever is on the mound will face a singular problem: a throwback slugger who will hunt errors but in addition hunt something inside his bat’s attain. 

“He’s Bryce Harper,” supervisor Carlos Mendoza mentioned throughout a exercise day at Citi Area on Monday. “He’s a extremely good participant and actually good hitter. He’s prepared at all times for that first pitch. He’s going to assault. 

“And should you make a mistake, he’s going to make you pay — and never solely within the zone, however should you shut him off within the zone, he’s nonetheless going to discover a strategy to put barrel [on the ball].”