There’s the clichéd coaching phrase that you need your best players to be their best when their best is needed — and if you’ve watched the Mets or the Brewers in recent days, that’s illustrated.

They traded momentum like a hot potato again in Game 2, but while the Mets continued their success route of tight defense and stringing together runs after singles, the Brewers moved ahead with the long ball — two of which came off Jackson’s bat Chourio arrived.

Oddsmakers note the increased star power and home field advantage for Game 3 as the Brew Crew opened at -123 on the moneyline after the Mets officially announced Jose Quintana as their starter.

Milwaukee has odds of -125 on BetMGM as of early Thursday morning.

Although the lead in this series has been lost six times in 17 ½ innings, I will not let this affect the stage for the final.

Mets vs. Brewers Game 3 Odds

Quintana steps in after dropping two losses to the Brewers in 2024, including his final appearance of the season in Saturday’s 6-0 loss, where he struck out nine batters and fell victim to the fickle support of the Mets.

He has posted steady numbers against Milwaukee in his career, with a 2.98 ERA and a 9.07 strikeout rate per nine. Quintana hasn’t seen the playoffs in two years, but he owns a 1.02 WHIP through 18 2/3 innings.

The 13-year veteran will face another Brewers rookie in Tobias Myers, who has shown the ability to throw deep in games all season.

Myers doesn’t have blistering speed, but what makes him reliable is his radar for locating pitches and minimizing walks.

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The Brewers have used their bullpen 4 ⅓ more innings than the Mets, but no matter who Pat Murphy chooses to juggle in Game 3, it’s tough to let go of a relief staff that finished with the second-best ERA in baseball (3.11 ).

The best players are ready to showcase again in the only Wild Card series to go the distance, but it will be more a matter of who blinks first.

THE GAME: Under 7.5 runs (BetMGM, -115)