The Mets and Giants will take the field in tonight's National League Wild Card Game, to be played at Citi Field in New York beginning at 8 ET (ESPN).
Two of the NL's top pitchers -- southpaw Madison Bumgarner and right-hander Noah Syndergaard -- will toe the rubber. The aces have excelled on the October stage before; Syndergaard started Game 3 of the 2015 World Series, the Mets' lone victory over the Royals in that series, while Bumgarner owns a 2.14 ERA through 14 career playoff appearances.
The Mets, who led the NL with a .643 winning percentage in September, will look to continue that momentum against Bumgarner. The club unveiled its lineup this afternoon, and it features four left-handed hitters in Curtis Granderson (fourth), Jay Bruce (sixth), James Loney (eighth) and Syndergaard (ninth). Bumgarner is tough on lefties, holding them to a .206 average throughout his career.
:: NL Wild Card: Giants vs. Mets coverage ::
Loney gets the start at first base in place of Lucas Duda, who was left off the Wild Card roster after starting the majority of games at first down the stretch. Loney enters the postseason as one of New York's hottest hitters, batting .288 with three homers during the final month of the regular season.
The Giants will deploy their lineup from the end of the regular season. With Eduardo Núñez out with an injured right hamstring, Conor Gillaspie gets the start at third base, batting eighth. In 37 starts this season, Gillaspie hit .294 with four homers and 14 RBIs. This will be his first career postseason appearance.
Brandon Belt, who is batting second, has the most experience against Syndergaard -- 0-for-6 with an RBI, three walks and three strikeouts in nine plate appearances. Buster Posey (3-for-6) has had the most success vs. Syndergaard.
Giants' lineup
Denard Span, CF
Brandon Belt, 1B
Buster Posey, C
Hunter Pence, RF
Brandon Crawford, SS
Ángel Pagán, LF
Joe Panik, 2B
Conor Gillaspie,3B
Madison Bumgarner, P
Mets' lineup
José Reyes, 3B
Asdrúbal Cabrera, SS
Yoenis Céspedes, LF
Curtis Granderson, CF
T.J. Rivera, 2B
Jay Bruce, RF
René Rivera, C
James Loney, 1B
Noah Syndergaard, P