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NEW YORK -- New York Mets manager Terry Collins knew the pursuit of a National League wild card would not be easy.The Philadelphia Phillies can follow in the footsteps of another NL East rival Thursday and make it even tougher for the Mets.The suddenly skidding Mets will host the Phillies on Thursday night in the first game of a four-game series at Citi Field. It is the final home series of the regular season for the Mets, whose chances of reaching the wild card game took a hit when the NL East cellar-dwelling Atlanta Braves completed a three-game sweep Wednesday with a 4-3 win.Despite the loss, the Mets (80-72) remain in a three-way tie for the two wild cards thanks to losses by the San Francisco Giants and St. Louis Cardinals. Still, it was a disappointing series for New York, which has the easiest remaining schedule of the three wild-card contenders and began Monday with a one-game lead on the Giants for the first wild card and a two-game lead on the Cardinals for the second wild card.The perception from the outside is that its easy, you guys have got the easiest schedule when you look at wins and losses, Collins said of the Mets, who are 20-10 since Aug. 20 and whose final three opponents -- the Braves, Phillies and Miami Marlins -- are a combined 44 games under .500. But dont tell the guys on the other side of the field.Like the Braves, the Phillies (69-83) arent acting like a team playing out the string. Philadelphia has won four of its past five games, and it knocked around American League Cy Young Award contender Chris Sale in an 8-3 win over the Chicago White Sox on Wednesday to complete a two-game sweep at Citizens Bank Park.You beat a guy like Sale today and maybe he wasnt at his best, but it doesnt matter to me, we beat him, Phillies manager Pete Mackanin said. So going into New York to play them, theyre going to be tough, theyve been playing pretty well, and theyre still playing for something. So it would be nice to be a spoiler.The Mets will look to an unlikely stopper Thursday when rookie right-hander Seth Lugo (4-2, 2.35 ERA) will oppose second-year Phillies left-hander Adam Morgan (2-10, 5.57).Lugo, who didnt factor into the decision in his most recent start last Saturday after giving up one run over five innings against the Minnesota Twins, is 4-1 with a 2.21 ERA in six starts since replacing injured southpaw Steven Matz in the rotation.New York has won each of Lugos last five starts. He has never faced the Phillies.Morgan didnt factor into the decision in his most recent start last Friday, when he gave up two runs (one earned) over 4 1/3 innings against the Miami Marlins. He has won just one of his past 18 games (16 starts), a stretch in which he has compiled a 5.87 ERA.Morgan is 0-1 with an 11.42 ERA in two career starts against the Mets. Discount Shoes Black Friday . Collaros, 25, was solid last season, posting a 5-2 record as the starter while incumbent Ricky Ray was injured. Collaros also started Torontos 23-20 regular-season finale loss to Montreal — Ray didnt dress because the Argos had already clinched first in the East Division — but was one of three quarterbacks to play that day. Shoes Black Friday Deals 2020 . Mats Zuccarello and Derek Stepan scored shootout goals, and backup goalie Cam Talbot earned his second win in two nights as the Rangers shook off a late tying tally and beat the Maple Leafs 2-1 Monday night. https://www.cheapshoesblackfriday.com/ . 31, the CFL club announced Monday. The team also has yet to decide on the future of Doug Berry, who began the season as a consultant to the head coach but took over the offensive co-ordinators duties in July. Cheap Shoes Black Friday . Tevez, who has had conflicts with coaches in the past, has not been called up since Sabella was named coach in 2011. Argentina boasts Lionel Messi, Gonzalo Higuain, Sergio Aguero, Ezequiel Lavezzi and Angel Di Maria. Fake Shoes Black Friday . Once again Jordan Cieciwa (@FitCityJordan) and I (@LynchOnSports) go head to head in our picks. Last weekend at UFC Fight Night 32 my #TeamLynch got the best of #TeamJC by a score of 9-6. Let us know which side youre on for UFC 167 use the hashtag #TeamLynch or #TeamJC on Twitter. After 17 regular season rounds and two weeks of playoffs, Super Rugby has arrived at its finale. Fortunately SANZAAR powerbrokers can breathe easy, as the two best teams have won through to the decider despite a horribly inequitable draw. The Hurricanes and Lions have played some outstanding rugby this season and, crucially, looked to have peaked at exactly the right moment.The Hurricanes season began with an embarrassing 52-10 defeat by the Brumbies, a loss that immediately raised doubts over their potential to challenge for the title without Maa Nonu and Conrad Smith. A narrow loss to the Highlanders followed a week later before Chris Boyds side finally hit their straps, winning 11 or their last 13 - including a 50-17 thumping of the Lions in Johannesburg - to claim top spot at the end of the regular season.While the Hurricanes finished with a flourish, it was clear the Lions would be South Africas only genuine title contenders from the outset. The Joburg side began their campaign in Tokyo before a win over the Chiefs, in Hamilton, really got their season rolling. There were slip-ups against both the Hurricanes and Crusaders at home, but victories over the Blues and Highlanders (semifinal) showed theyve got the game that belongs at the tail end of the season.SquadsHurricanes: James Marshall, Cory Jane, Matt Proctor, Willis Halaholo, Jason Woodward, Beauden Barrett, TJ Perenara (captain), Victor Vito, Ardie Savea, Brad Shields, Michael Fatialofa, Vaea Fifita, Ben May,Dane Coles (captain )/Ricky Riccitelli, Loni Uhila Replacements: Ricky Riccitelli/Leni Apisai, Chris Eves, Reggie Goodes/Mike Kainga, Mark Abbott, Tony Lamborn, Jamison Gibson Park, Vince Aso, Julian Savea.Hurricanes captain Dane Coles has been bracketed for the Super Rugby final at a sold-out Westpac Stadium. If he is fit to play, he will be the only change to the team that started the semifinal win over the Chiefs last weekend. Ricky Riccitelli, who started at hooker against the Chiefs, has once again been bracketed with his skipper for the final, while there are also two late calls to be made in the reserves. Openside Callum Gibbins, who missed the semifinal with an Achilles injury, has once again been bracketed with Tony Lamborn, while prop Reggie Goodes has also been bracketed with Mike Kainga as he continues to work through concussion protocols. Colesy has made good progress each day and clearly hes very keen to play in the final, Hurricanes coach Chris Boyd said. He will do everything he can to be fit for kick-off and if he doesnt make it then we have every confidence Ricky and Leni step up and do a good job if required. Its a similar situation on the bench where were very fortunate to have some quality depth should Callum or Reggie not be able to prove their fitness in time. We will give them all as much time as they need before making the final call.Lions: Andries Coetzee, Ruan Combrinck, Lionel Mapoe, Rohan Janse van Rensburg, Courtnal Skosan, Elton Jantjies, Faf De Klerk; Warren Whiteley (c), Warwick Tecklenburg, Jaco Kriel, Franco Mostert, Andries Ferreira, Julian Redelinghuys, Malcolm Marx, Dylon Smith. Replacements: Armand van der Merwe, Corne Fourie, Jacques van Rooyen, Lourens Erasmus, Ruan Ackermann, Ross Cronje, Howard Mnisi, Jaco van der Walt.After missing the Lions semifinal triumph over the Highlanders, Lions skipper Warren Whiteley is back to lead his franchise in its maiden Super Rugby decider. The side is otherwise unchanged from last week, giving the South Africans great familiarity across the paddock.?Weve learnt a lot in the last couple of years and were fortunate enough to have a lot of continuity in the squad, Whiteley said. Weve learnt how to make the best of hard tours and have fun.Key matchup: Beauden Barrett vss.dddddddddddd Elton JantjiesThe battle at No.10 is central to every rugby contest, but it takes on greater significance this week given the sensational recent form of both Beauden Barrett and Elton Jantjies.Barrett has long been regarded as a classy pivot, but the Taranaki native has taken his game to new levels this season by a coming up with a series of brilliant individual plays that highlight the gulf in skill between New Zealands playmakers and those in other parts of the world. But he has also developed a greater control of the finer points of fly-half play, and the ability to guide his team around paddock - something he did superbly in cyclonic conditions in Wellington two weeks ago. He may just be the best player on the planet right now, though that may not even be enough to see him don the All Blacks No.10 jersey in Bledisloe I.Much of the same can be said for Jantjies. A player of immense ability, the Lions pivot has taken a little longer to fulfil his potential; but buoyed by a Test return against Ireland last month, the 26-year-old fly-half really has the Lions humming. Blessed with a big left boot and a slick passing game, Jantjies has been at the heart of the Lions entertaining and free-running approach - evidenced by the two try-assists he laid on against the Highlanders last week.Key stats (Opta Stats)- The Hurricanes have won nine of their 10 encounters with the Lions in Super Rugby, including each of their last seven. In those last seven wins they have beaten the South African side by an average of 15.3 points per game.- Not since 2012 has a Super Rugby final been decided by more than the value of a converted try (Chiefs 37-6 Sharks).- This final pitches the best attack against the best defence, the Lions have averaged a competition high 36.4 points and 4.8 tries per game whilst the Hurricanes have conceded a league low 19 points per game.- The Lions (25) and Hurricanes (23) have scored the second and third most tries from possessions originating in their own half respectively this season, only the Crusaders (26) have scored more.WeatherKnown for its wind and rain, Wellington is expecting some slippery conditions throughout most of Saturday. The New Zealand capital will only hit a top of nine degrees during the day, but expect that to drop a few notches by the time kick-off rolls around.UBET verdict: Hurricanes $1.33, Lions $3.40 [correct as at 2/8]The Canes lost the home final last year, and UBET customers think they will atone in 2016 as they have been sensationally backed to beat the Lions. This will be the first time since Round 3 in March that any of the Lions first XV have ventured outside of South Africa - given their second-string team went to Argentina - so that is a plus for them. These two played in Joburg back in April, and on that occasion the Lions were slight underdogs and were thumped 50-17 -- the Canes scoring seven tries to three. The Canes have won all eight matches against the Lions on NZ soil, and realistically should be holding the trophy aloft on Saturday night.PredictionDriven by the final defeat of 2015 and the knowledge they remain the only New Zealand franchise still to win a Super Rugby final, this looks like the Hurricanes final to lose. Furthermore, only one team has won a Super Rugby decider in another country - the seven-time champion Crusaders. But it extends beyond sentiment and statistics, the Hurricanes have been nothing short of exemplary since the June Test break - their key men in career-best form. The Lions are loaded with rising talent, but their fairytale story could use another year of development.Hurricanes by seven. ' ' '