SAN FRANCISCO vs. N.Y METS

Wednesday: New York (Hampton 15-10) at San Francisco (Hernandez 17-11), 1 p.m., ESPN

Thursday: New York (Leiter 16-8) at San Francisco (Estes 15-6), 5:15 p.m., Channel 11

Saturday: San Francisco (Ortiz 13-12) at New York (Reed 11-5), TBA

* Sunday: San Francisco at New York, TBA

* Monday: New York at San Francisco, TBA

* If necessary All times PDT

NEW YORK AT A GLANCE

Lineup

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Po Player HR RBI Avg. LF Benny Agbayani 15 60 .289 RF Derek Bell 18 69 .266 2B Edgardo Alfonzo 25 94 .324 C Mike Piazza 38 113 .324 3B Robin Ventura 24 84 .232 1B Todd Zeile 22 79 .268 CF Jay Payton 17 62 .291 SS Mike Bordick 4 21 .260 P Mike Hampton 15-10, 3.14 ERA

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Analysis: The Mets did it the hard way. Again. They withstood another late-season slump, after also flopping last September, in qualifying for the playoffs in consecutive seasons for the first time in franchise history. Piazza struggled the most, batting only .231 after hitting .342 in August. The drop-off almost cost the Mets the wild-card berth--and might have cost him the MVP award. Alfonzo, one of baseball’s best all-around players, has been the most consistent Met. His performance helped the club weather Piazza’s tumultuous September. Ventura has struggled because of injuries, leaving the Mets without much firepower behind Piazza and Alfonzo. Hampton, who rebounded after a slow start, and Al Leiter are a formidable left-handed 1-2 punch. Closer Armando Benitez (4-4, 2.61 ERA, 41 saves) leads a dependable, October-tested bullpen.

* Key reserves: OF Darryl Hamilton (1 HR, 6 RBI, .276), IF Matt Franco (2, 14, .239), IF Lenny Harris (4, 26, .260), C Todd Pratt (8, 25, .275)

* Team batting: .263 (10th in NL)

* Team pitching: 4.16 ERA (3rd)

SAN FRANCISCO AT A GLANCE

Lineup

*--*

Po Player HR RBI Avg. CF Marvin Benard 12 55 .263 3B Bill Mueller 10 55 .268 LF Barry Bonds 49 106 .306 2B Jeff Kent 33 125 .334 RF Ellis Burks 24 96 .344 1B J.T. Snow 19 96 .284 SS Rich Aurilia 20 79 .271 C Bobby Estalella 14 53 .234 P Livan Hernandez 17-11, 3.75 ERA

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Analysis: Manager Dusty Baker guided the Giants to their second West title since 1997, reaffirming his reputation as the best in the business. The Giants are solid defensively and offensively, receiving production from many sources. Kent, who sets the tone, is expected to be selected the league MVP after powering the Giants from start to finish. Bonds had another MVP-caliber season, hitting at least 40 home runs for the fourth time in establishing a personal best with 49. Smooth fielder Snow anchors a solid infield that features the underrated Aurilia. The rotation, led by Hernandez, is experienced. Closer Robb Nen (4-3, 1.50 ERA, 41 saves) has been overpowering most of the season. Is there a better setup man than Felix Rodriguez (4-2, 2.64)?

* Key reserves: OF Armando Rios (10 HR, 50 RBI, .266), IF Russ Davis (9, 24, .261), OF Calvin Murray (2, 22, .242), C Doug Mirabelli (6, 28, .230), IF Ramon Martinez (6, 25, .302)

* Team batting: .278 (2nd in NL)

* Team pitching: 4.21 ERA (4th)

KEYS TO THE SERIES

Bonds and Piazza. The perennial all-stars have not fared well in the postseason. Bonds batted .250 as the Florida Marlins swept the Giants in the ’97 division series, and batted .191 in three championship series with the Pittsburgh Pirates. Piazza has a .242 average in 33 at-bats in division series games, and batted .167 as the Atlanta Braves defeated the Mets in the ’99 championship series. A breakout performance from either might determine the series winner. Kent and Burks seemingly offer Bonds better support than Piazza should expect. The Giants, who have home-field advantage throughout the playoffs, tied the Mets for the majors’ top home record, going 55-26 in their first season at Pacific Bell Park. They want to shed their “overachieving” label, and here’s their chance.

* Records: Giants 97-65, Mets 94-68

* Head to head: Giants, 5-3.