Philadelphia sports insider gives lowdown on scary Mets foe

They are ancient rivals, division cellmates from the beginning, their disdain fueled by equal parts familiarity and proximity, their parks located just 116.5 miles apart, each filled with emotionally charged, balled-fist backers.Until now, the Mets and Phillies have been only summer foes, strangers in October.

But by the end of the week, they could very well become the new Yankees versus Red Sox.It’s #OMG versus #STFU.Grimace versus the Phanatic.The Hot versus The Got.The Mets may be dreaming now, high off the Milwaukee Miracle, but reality looms in Philadelphia.The Phillies ain’t the Brewers.

They are a team that exploded out of the gate, and despite a brief July hiccup, cruised to the NL East title and second-best record in baseball, narrowly bested by the Dodgers.A team artfully put together by renown architect Dave Dombrowski, they are October tested, having been to the World Series two years ago and only failing a return trip last year by losing in seven to Arizona in the NLCS.They have a lineup of bashers, a strong rotation and an even better bullpen.They embrace the bright lights and are ring obsessed after being so close the last two years.

Don’t be fooled by the fact the Mets only lost the season series, 7-6.Three of the Mets wins came against Phillies gas can No.

5 starters and you don’t need fifth starters in October.“On paper, it’s a complete mismatch,” one NL scout said.“The Mets don’t stand a chance.”This week, we will learn if magic is real.

Let me introduce you to the Phightin’ Phillies:Built to bash, the Phils throw haymakers from the top of the lineup with lefty hulkster Kyle Schwarber, the antithesis of the trad leadoff hitter.Once a topic of debate, even the purists can’t complain over clogged bases with the club’s success deploying their first-up spirit animal, The Schwarbomb, who set a major league record with 15 leadoff homers this season, the last one coming Sept.

21 on an 0-1 sinker from Mets lefty Sean Manaea...