Explore how the Dodgers and Mets arrived at the NLCS, why each team has a chance to win, and predictions for a thrilling postseason battle.
It has been an amazing playoff run leading up to the NLCS, filled with exciting moments, drama, and unforgettable moments. Now we’ve reached the league championship series that determines which team will advance to the Fall Classic. Going up in the pennant race is the Los Angeles Dodgers against the New York Mets. This series will be exciting to watch for many reasons. One of them is because it’s the battle of LA versus NY. We haven’t these see two teams face each other in the playoffs since the NLDS back in 2015.
The Mets took care of business the last time these teams met in the postseason. New York defeated Los Angeles in five games to advance to the NLCS. More to the point, the Mets lead the head-t0-head record against the Dodgers when it comes to facing off in October. They have won in 2006 and 2015 while the Dodgers won back in 1988. Los Angeles also looks to avenge their loss when the teams last met. They hope for a different outcome this time.
How The Dodgers Arrived Here
This year’s Dodgers team is no joke. They have been the most consistent team all year long. As a result of their consistency, they have earned themselves the number one seed. But there’s more to how they reached this far in the playoffs. It all started back last winter. Los Angeles went all-in last offseason aggressively. They spent over a billion dollars on star players such as OF Teoscar Hernandez, SP Yoshinobu Yamamoto, and DH Shohei Ohtani. These moves have paid off.
Those were moves they had to make. After back-to-back early exits from the NLDS, the team made sure that history doesn’t repeat itself like it once did. Though the team dealt with major injuries, it didn’t stop them from being the dominant team they are right now. Recently, the team just overcame the San Diego Padres in five games in the NLDS. It wasn’t easy but they got the job done.
There are small concerns for this team as they prepare for their upcoming series with the Mets. One of them regards Ohtani. San Diego did a good job limiting him in that last series. They only allowed four hits when pitching to him. But some stars did step in. The most notable star that has stepped up is Yoshinobu Yamamoto. In a duel against RHP Yu Darvish, he tossed five shutout innings in the win-or-go-home game. The Dodgers will need more of that from their ace to keep winning.
How The Mets Arrived Here
The 2024 Mets were not supposed to get this far into the playoffs. Heading into the 2024 season, their expectations were just to make the postseason. No one expected them to be playing in the NLCS. They have proved doubters wrong. After an awful couple of months, New York found ways to turn their season around. Since June 1, they hold the best record of baseball at 65-40. They even outplayed the Philadelphia Phillies, who had expectations of making a deep run into the playoffs but failed.
Their hot playoff run did not ultimately start until the doubleheader day between them and their NL East rival Atlanta Braves. In the game that they clinched, the offense went on to score on 8 runs. That’s what made it harder for opponent teams to cool off the Mets, their red-hot offense. There are also players that deserve tons of credit for their recent deep run into the playoffs.
One of them that deserves credit is SS Francisco Lindor. All year long he has been playing like the team’s MVP. After starting the season cold, he has finally figured it out. Lindor has been clutch in times when the Mets needed him. For example, in the clinching game against Philadelphia, he launched a go-ahead grand slam to put the team on top. It proved to be the difference maker the rest of the way. Then there was 3B Mark Vientos. He has also been clutch at times the team needs him. In his first postseason appearance, he is hitting .429. And that is very impressive coming from a rookie.
Why The Dodgers Will Win This Series
History shows that it’s time for the Dodgers to end their playoff series drought to the Mets. While the past has favored the Mets, it’s now time for Los Angeles to avenge those losses they suffered in their past. They have the roster to get the job done, especially with those that have plenty of playoff experience. Veterans like 2B Mookie Betts, 1B Freddie Freeman, and 2B Enrique Hernandez all have that experience. That will be a factor as they kick off their next series. They also have an elite rotation as well. Names like RHP Jack Flaherty, Bobby Miller, and of course Yoshinobu Yamamoto are all going to be tough to beat.
Why The Mets Will Win This Series
New York has already defied the odds coming into this series. They’re coming off another series upset where they managed to defeat the Phillies in just four games in the NLDS. Their pitching is what is going to be key to pulling off another upset. It showed in the last round against their division rival. If the Mets want to advance to the Fall Classic, their starting pitching will have to keep pace like they showed earlier.
Series Prediction
I expect this series to go seven games. With firepower that comes along for both teams, it won’t be an easy series. This should be an NLCS to remember. Here I have the Dodgers advancing to the World Series.
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