NLDS matchups, prediction and preview

PHILADELPHIA – Whenever the Mets dry off from the champagne showers, they'll have to sober up given the class of the NL East.

The Phillies await the next step for a Mets club that has conquered some demons in Atlanta and Milwaukee in an NLDS matchup that begins Saturday at Citizens Bank Park.

Rob Thomson's crew has their starting pitch prepared and their bullpen fully loaded.

The Mets, who didn't have a top starting option for Game 1 and amazingly turn to Kodai Senga, will start in a hole – which is nothing new for this group.

They lost their first five games, were 11 games under .500 on June 2, and appeared to be on the verge of elimination twice in the past week.

Instead, they upset the Braves in Game 9 on Monday and surprised the Brewers in Game 9 on Thursday.

The Phillies, who rose to first place in the league on May 3 and never relented, winning the NL East by six games, were far less dramatic.

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The Post's Mark W. Sanchez takes a look at how the Mets and Phillies meet in the playoff showdown:

At the plate

Get on base

Both are among the stronger teams in baseball when it comes to getting around the base, but the Phillies are among the strongest.

Bryce Harper (.373 OBP) lives on base, and Philadelphia has three other qualifiers (Kyle Schwarber, Trea Turner and Alec Bohm) who finished the season with an OBP above .330. The only Met to do this was Francisco Lindor (.344 OBP).

edge: Phillies

Performance

Both can hit, with the Mets finishing with the sixth-most home runs and the Phillies seventh.

There's potential for a lot of groundbreaking moon shots, especially at Citizens Bank Park. Has Pete Alonso, Thursday's hero, woke up?

Can Mark Vientos establish himself as an October artist?

Will Harper and Schwarber's playoff legends grow?

edge: Even

On the base paths

The Mets are quite proud of their baserunning, which was successful on 82.8 percent of their steal attempts, posting the second-best efficiency in franchise history.

However, the Phillies are better.

They stole about the same percentage while stealing 42 more bases than the Mets.

Only Lindor (29) stole more than 17 bases for the Mets this season, while Bryson Stott (32), Johan Rojas (25), Turner (19) and Brandon Marsh (19) surpassed that total.

edge: Phillies

Infield

The Mets' centerfield tandem of Lindor (also with a bad back) and Jose Iglesias is one of the best in baseball, beating out Turner and Stott.

However, the Phillies have the advantage at corners, where Bohm is a solid third baseman and Harper has adjusted well to the first baseman position.

edge: Even

Outfield: Batters looking for hits? Try right field.

Starling Marte has lost at least one step after multiple lower body injuries, and Nick Castellanos is a DH hiding on the right side.

Otherwise, the Mets and Phillies are about even, with Brandon Nimmo and Marsh (or Austin Hays) being solid in left, and Tyrone Taylor (plus Harrison Bader late in the game) and Rojas being above-average centerfielders.

edge: Even

bank

Both clubs value flexibility and defense over a strong bench bat, although anyone between Jesse Winker and JD Martinez is a threat, as is platoon outfielder Hays.

Bader is valuable late in games in the Mets' outfield, similar to Edmundo Sosa's excellent defense all over the field for Philadelphia.

edge: Even

On the hill

rotation

The Mets could argue that their starting group gives them the better chance.

Since August 1, when Sean Manaea struck out, Jose Quintana came around and David Peterson excelled, the group posted a 3.28 ERA, fifth-best in baseball and far better than the Phillies' 4.94.

But the Mets will roll with Senga in Game 1 and won't be able to unleash their ace, Manaea, until Game 3.

The Phillies were able to start the series with Zack Wheeler and Cristopher Sanchez, a strong one-two punch.

edge: Phillies

Bullpen

The Phillies added closer Carlos Estevez (combined season ERA of 2.45) to an already high-octane bullpen at the trade deadline, joining a core that includes Jeff Hoffman (2.17), Matt Strahm (1.87) and Orion Kerkering (2.29).

The Mets unit hasn't shown the weakness it has had throughout the season, but there are still issues getting the ball to Edwin Diaz.

edge: Phillies

manager

The Mets couldn't have asked for more from Carlos Mendoza, a first-year major league manager who held the team together several times when it could have splintered.

Still, we'll go with the experience of Thomson, who won the NL pennant in 2022.

edge: Phillies

Intangible assets

There are many categories to argue about in this breakdown, but this one isn't much of a debate. The Mets are the undisputed champions of intangibles in a season that has featured “OMG,” Grimace, and now the Playoff Pumpkin.

edge: Mets

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Series predictions

Jon Heyman

Mets in 5th

Why stop believing now?

Dan Martin

Mets in 5th

The Mets reached the NLCS in 2006 and again nine years later in 2015. Perhaps 2024 is their next trip in an already unpredictable postseason.

Mike Puma

Mets in 5th

The Mets are riding the wave and should enjoy at least one more playoff round.

Mark W. Sanchez

Phillies in 5th

At some point the strain, the exhausted arms and Francisco Lindor's back have to catch up with the Mets, right?

Joel Sherman

Mets in 5th

The Phillies have the best roster in the NL. Something inexplicable is going on with the Mets.

Mike Vaccaro

Phillies in 5th

The crowds will be deafening, in both cities, and it will be hard to break serve, and that's the only reason to like Philly by a hair, because Game 5 will be at Citizens Bank Park.