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We have reached the final four in baseball. Through two rounds of this postseason, the Dodgers and Mets have emerged from the National League to wage a cross-country battle with a spot in the World Series on the line.
This National League Championship Series promises plenty of fireworks, with an all-star roster led by Shohei Ohtani, Francisco Lindor, Mookie Betts and Pete Alonso ready to put on a show starting in Game 1 on Sunday.
Let’s analyze it.
NO. NEW YORK 6 METS vs. LOS ANGELES DODGERS No. 1
How did they get here?
Mets: No one in baseball has won more games since June 1. All the lovely details (Pete Alonso’s pumpkin, José Iglesias’ music career, Grimace) sort of overshadow that this has been a phenomenal team for 15 weeks.
So far in October, New York’s starting pitching has triumphed. A Mets starter has yet to allow more than three earned runs in any start. As a unit, they have allowed 10 runs in 37 innings, giving them a 2.43 ERA. In Games 3 and 4 of the NLDS against the Phillies, Sean Manaea and José Quintana combined for just one earned run in 12 innings. This group has taken a big step forward, which is good considering how relatively overloaded the bullpen seems right now.
Dodgers: Expectations are always higher in Los Angeles, as they should be, considering the payroll and star power this team has annually. But even facing the playoff team that no one wanted to see in the San Diego Padres, the Dodgers showed a different kind of fight and managed to emerge victorious from the most intense series so far in the postseason.
Yes, the Dodgers had big trades throughout the series for players like Shohei Ohtani, Mookie Betts, Teoscar Hernández and Kiké Hernández. But the key to Los Angeles’ comeback against San Diego was the bullpen. The Dodgers’ relievers held the Padres scoreless over the final 24 innings of the series. The big, bad Dodgers were on the ropes, but with new life, they’re starting to realize how good they are.
Key Pairing
Mets pitch against Shohei Ohtani:
Shohei Ohtani has the ability to change any game at any time with a single punch. He will be the focus of the Mets’ pitching staff throughout the National League Championship Series. After his game-tying home run in Game 1 against the Padres, San Diego did a good job neutralizing Ohtani, as he went 4-for-20 with 10 strikeouts over the remainder of the NLDS.
But there was clearly a plan of attack throughout the series, and having an elite, high-leverage arm like Tanner Scott to face Ohtani late in games definitely helps. If New York wants to give itself a chance against one of the best lineups in MLB, Mets pitchers have to stop that lineup’s engine in Ohtani.
how they win
Mets: The Mets can win this series because their starting pitching and pitching depth are significantly better than the Dodgers. Being able to deploy Sean Manaea, Luis Severino and José Quintana will give New York a fighting chance in every game. And with their biggest stars playing like stars at the perfect time, the Mets’ bats will put pressure on Los Angeles’ starting pitching (or lack thereof) every game, quickly reaching the Dodgers’ bullpen, which will have a carryover effect as the series progresses. agrees. How well Los Angeles’ relievers hold up could make the difference in this case.
Dodgers: If the Dodgers win the NLCS, it will be because the switch they flipped after Game 3 of the NLCS gave them a renewed belief that, at their best, they are better than their competition. . From an offensive standpoint, few teams, if any, can take on these Dodgers. And with Mookie Betts starting to look like himself, Ohtani is always a threat to leave the yard and the great depth that Los Angeles presents, especially with the Hernandez pair heating up, if any game in the series becomes a high-profile affair. scores, the Dodgers have a big advantage.
Series prediction
Dodgers in seven: This series will not be a walk in the park for either team. The Mets feel like the team of destiny this postseason, but that shouldn’t distract us from the fact that they are a very good team. The Dodgers arrive with a lot of momentum after an exciting series against the rival Padres. New York has a clear advantage in starting pitching, but Los Angeles’ lineup is designed for slugs and game-changing big swings.
The difference probably lies in the bullpens and the managers. Both Dave Roberts and Carlos Mendoza have outscored their opponents so far in October. Mendoza hasn’t looked fazed in the postseason, even as a rookie manager, but Roberts still has the advantage, having been in these moments so many times before. This series will go down to the wire, but the Dodgers’ experience will give them the advantage and send them to the World Series for the first time since 2020.