NLCS Game 6: Mets at Dodgers game thread

With the Yankees having now secured the AL pennant, they’re awaiting a marquee series against either their crosstown rivals or their west coast big-market counterpart. The New York Mets succeeded in extending the NLCS and keeping the hope of a Subway World Series alive with a 12-6 Game 5 victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers at Citi Field. However, the Ohtani and Co. will look to squash that hope tonight with a pen full of relievers ready to fire.

Former top starting prospect Michael Kopech, who had a 1.13 ERA in the regular season after getting moved to the Dodgers, will commence LA’s game plan tonight. He’s also been lights our so far in the postseason, thrown 4 ¹⁄₃ scoreless innings in five appearances. Don’t expect him to go more than an inning as he’s only done so seven times this whole season and not once since August 10.

Similar to Game 4, when Los Angeles faced southpaw Jose Quintana, they’ll give the sprained-ankled Freddie Freeman the day off against the Mets southpaw Sean Manaea and go righty-heavy for their starting lineup.

I don’t have to tell you guys much about the Mets Game 6 starter, who’s amazingly emerged as the Mets ace this postseason. After putting together the best regular season of his career, Manaea has limited opposing teams to a 2.65 ERA so far in the playoffs with 17 strikeouts in as many innings. When he faced the Dodgers in Game 3, he cruised through the first 4 innings before allowing a Max Muncy solo homer in the 5th and two more runs in the 6th — one earned — without getting an out. Manaea will look to rebound from the end of his last outing and pitch more like the guy he’s been through most of the playoffs.

Mets manager Carlos Mendoza will stick with the new lineup order he rolled out in Game 5, hoping that the 12 runs they racked up weren’t a fluke.

First pitch is scheduled for 5:08 p.m. PT.