There’s the cliched coaching expression that the best players have to be at their best when they’re needed – and if you’ve watched either the Mets or the Brewers in the last few days, that’s been exemplified.

They traded momentum like a hot potato in Game 2, too, but while the Mets continued their successful streak of tight defense and stringing together runs, the Brewers led the way with long balls – two of which came off the bat of Jackson Chourio.

Oddsmakers are pointing to stronger star power and home-field advantage for Game 3, as the Brew Crew opened at -123 on the money line after the Mets officially announced Jose Quintana as their starter.

Milwaukee is at -125 odds early Thursday morning at BetMGM.

Although the lead in this series was lost six times in 17 ½ innings, I won’t let that affect the stage for the finale.

Mets vs. Brewers Game 3 Odds

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

Against Milwaukee, he posted consistent career numbers with a 2.98 ERA and a 9.07 strikeout-per-nine rate. Quintana hasn’t seen the playoffs in two years, but he owns a WHIP of 1.02 in 18 2/3 innings.

The 13-year veteran will face another Brewers rookie, Tobias Myers, who has shown he can get into games all season long.

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

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The Brewers used their bullpen for 4⅓ more innings than the Mets, but no matter who Pat Murphy is juggling in Game 3, it’s hard to fade a relief staff that finished with the second-best ERA in baseball (3.11).

The best players are primed to shine again in the only Wild Card series to go the distance, but it’s more about who blinks first.

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