Series Preview: Mets Set to Battle Dodgers in NLCS

The New York Mets are four wins away from returning to the World Series. But, let’s not get ahead of ourselves. Standing in the way is the Los Angeles Dodgers, headlined by Shohei Ohtani and Mookie Betts.

The Dodgers overcame a 2-1 deficit to the San Diego Padres in the NLDS, throwing two consecutive shutouts on their way to advancing. These teams last met at the end of May. The Mets had a team meeting after the Dodgers swept them. That meeting was one of the big turning points, helping the team get here.

The Mets are a very different team to the one the Dodgers saw then. Let’s take a look at this upcoming series.

Pitching Matchups

• Game 1: Kodai Senga (0-0, 4.50 ERA) vs. Jack Flaherty (0-1, 6.75 ERA): Senga made his postseason debut and just his second start of the season in Game 1 of the NLDS. He threw two innings, allowing one run on one hit and one walk, striking out three in 31 pitches. Senga is expected to give the Mets a bit more length in this game. Expect to see him in there for three-to-four innings. Flaherty had a solid second half with the Dodgers, going 6-2 with a 3.58 ERA in 10 starts. He made five starts at Dodger Stadium in the regular season. He went 3-1 with a 3.34 ERA, tallying 31 strikeouts in 29 2/3 innings.
• Game 2: Sean Manaea (1-0, 2.25 ERA) vs. Walker Buehler (0-1, 10.80 ERA): Manaea threw an absolute gem against the Phillies in Game 3 of the NLDS. His final line was seven innings, one run, three hits, two walks and six strikeouts. Manaea had a 15.26 ERA in the postseason prior to this run. What has happened in the past is not affecting him, exuding plenty of confidence. Buehler has had a tough season in his return from Tommy John surgery. The right-handed starter took the loss in Game 3 of the NLDS against the Padres, although his defense didn’t help. For his career, Buehler has a 3.40 ERA in the postseason.
• Game 3: TBD vs. TBD: Neither team has yet to announce a starter for Game 3. The Mets have two options; Jose Quintana and Luis Severino. The Dodgers could do a bullpen game. They could also go back to Yoshinobu Yamamoto on normal rest. Plenty of quality options for both teams.
• Game 4: TBD vs. TBD: If the Mets and the Dodgers decide to take that route in Game 3, the probables for Game 4 will likely be Quintana and Yamamoto. Quintana has pitched brilliantly in two series-clinching victories so far; 11 innings pitched, no runs allowed this postseason. Yamamoto is coming off an excellent performance himself; five innings, two hits, no runs, one walk and two strikeout in Game 5 of the NLDS against the Padres. Both pitchers are full of confidence at the moment.
• Game 5: TBD vs. TBD: If the series gets to a fifth game, the Mets could go back to Senga. They could also give David Peterson a start, who has come out of the bullpen so far this postseason. As for the Dodgers, Flaherty would likely get the start.
• Game 6: TBD vs. TBD: If the series goes back to Los Angeles, Sean Manaea would be expected to take the ball for the Mets. A rematch between him and Buehler would be expected.
• Game 7: TBD vs. TBD: A Game 7 would mean all hands on deck for both teams. Just about every starter and reliever would be in play for this one. The only two pitchers who would likely be unavailable is Manaea and Buehler, assuming they each have long outings in the previous game.

Who’s Hot?

Mark Vientos (NYM)

Vientos continues to show why he is one of the best young third baseman in all of baseball. He was fantastic in the NLDS against the Phillies. In four games, he slashed .563/.611/1.063 (1.674 OPS) with two home runs and five runs batted in. Vientos is on a tear and the Mets hope that will continue for a few more weeks.

Teoscar Hernández (LAD)

Hernández had a great regular season, giving the Dodgers another potent bat in the middle of their order. That has only continued in the playoffs, providing plenty of run production against the Padres. In the NLDS, he hit .333 with an 1.067 OPS, giving the Dodgers two home runs and seven runs batted in. The Mets will look to keep him quiet in this series.

Prediction

The Dodgers have more top-end talent than the Mets. But one of those stars, Freddie Freeman, is playing through an ankle injury. If he continues to feel the effects of that, it really changes things.

This series will likely be determined by an x-factor or two executing in critical moments. At this point in the season, those are the players that determine the outcome of a playoff matchup. Both teams had multiple guys who were able to do just that in their previous series. Right now, the healthier team is the Mets. Ohtani is going to get his, Betts is going to get his, but the rest of the lineup will be kept in check on the whole. The Mets are going to take this in six games.

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