"Phillies don't have a Jose Iglesias, Brandon Nimmo" - Ex-GM sees Bryce Harper as team's only hope for grinding at-bats against Mets in NLDS Game 4

On Wednesday, MLB insiders Jim Salisbury and Todd Zolecki, along with ex-Phillies general manager Ruben Amaro Jr., talked about the importance of Bryce Harper for the Phillies' offense.

According to Amaro Jr., Harper is the only player currently on his team who can "grind out at-bats and make the pitcher work."

The Phils' first baseman has had a strong 2024 season, batting .285 with 30 home runs and 87 RBIs. In the postseason so far, Harper has a .333 batting average with three RBIs and a homer in nine total plate appearances.

On the October 9 edition of 'The Phillies Show', Ruben Amaro Jr. talked about why superstar Bryce Harper is so crucial for the Phillies against the New York Mets.

"When a guy like Alec Bohm is not going well, he's one of their real good hitters. He's a .275-.300 type of a hitter. Right now, he's lost, and that crushes them because they don't have a guy in the middle of that lineup other than Harper, who's a hitter," Amaro Jr. said. [8:59]

"You know, a guy that will work and grind an at-bat. They don't have a Jose Iglesias, who's grinding at-bats out, who's putting balls in play, who's working. [They don't have] Brandon Nimmo, who grinds out at-bats, and makes the pitcher work, and stays in the strike zone," Amaro Jr. added. [9:22]

Phillies dangerously close to elimination as Mets take game three at Citi Field

The Mets recorded a comfortable victory over Philadelphia in game three of the NLDS at Citi Field on Tuesday. The hosts took control early on, as Pete Alonso continued his stellar postseason form with another important home run, opening the scoring in the bottom of the second.

Starting pitcher Aaron Nola struggled against the dynamic Mets offense, giving up four earned runs in five innings.

On the other hand, Mets' starter Sean Manaea had a near-perfect playoff outing, going seven innings, striking out six and giving up only one earned run. The Mets were up six going into the eighth inning.

Though the visitors did reduce the deficit via RBIs from Bryce Harper and Nick Castellanos, it proved to be a mere consolation as the Mets scored another in the same inning and romped to victory.

Visiting fans will be hoping their inconsistent offense can come to life for game four on Wednesday, as the Phils fight to stay alive in the series and force a fifth game at Citizens Bank Park.