The National League Championship Series is here, and it’s a big, coast-to-coast matchup between the New York Mets and the Los Angeles Dodgers.
The Mets grabbed one of the last NL wild card spots on the final day of the regular season before beating the Brewers and Phillies so far this postseason. The Dodgers have been one of the top teams in the NL – and in all of baseball – all season long.
The Dodgers won four of the six games these two teams played this season, and Shohei Ohtani was a major factor for Los Angeles. In five of those games, the National League MVP favorite slashed .316/.458/.684 in 24 at-bats with two home runs, six RBI and five walks.
On Sunday, Jack Flaherty (0-1, 5.1 IP, 6.75 ERA in 2024 postseason) got the start for the Dodgers against Kodai Senga (0-0, 2.0 IP, 4.50 ERA) for the Mets at Dodger Stadium. You can watch the match on Fox.
Jack Flaherty is dealing. Six on and six down for the Dodgers starter, who has three strikeouts and a 2-0 lead after the top of the second inning. The Dodgers come to the plate in the bottom of the second inning and look to extend their early lead.
Kodai Senga issued consecutive walks to Mookie Betts, Freddie Freeman and Teoscar Hernandez, and the Dodgers made him pay. Max Muncy scored Betts and Freeman with a two-out single to give the Dodgers a 2-0 lead in one inning.
Kodai Senga loads the bases with one out, and the Mets run into trouble early.
A big storyline to keep an eye on during the NLCS is how the Mets look to take on Shohei Ohtani late in games. The Padres kept Ohtani quiet in the NLDS (he hit 2-for-his-last-15) largely because they were able to deploy dominant left-handed reliever Tanner Scott in the later innings.
The Mets only have two left-handed relievers on their roster (David Peterson and Danny Young), neither of whom are obvious weapons against Ohtani. Young did not pitch in the NLDS and Peterson was mainly used in multi-inning spurts.
Kodai Senga takes the mound for the Mets to face Dodgers MVP Shohei Ohtani, Mookie Betts and Freddie Freeman.
A quick first for Dodgers starter Jack Flaherty. A 1-2-3 inning brings in Francisco Lindor, Mark Vientos and Brandon Nimmo.
It’s an ideal night for October baseball in Los Angeles. 72 degrees and clear skies.
We are just moments away from the first pitch. Dodgers starter Jack Flaherty is warming up on the mound.
Manny Ramirez in the house
Manny Ramirez played for the Dodgers for three seasons from 2008 to 2010 and still has affection for the team.
Fly to Dodger Stadium
Game 1 will influence the Dodgers pitching strategy for Game 2
How Game 1 goes for the Dodgers could impact their pitching strategy for Game 2. Walker Buehler is the likely Game 2 starter, but manager Dave Roberts said it could be a bullpen game with Buehler then starting Game 3.
To that end, Dave Roberts said it’s “a possibility” that the Dodgers will play a bullpen game in Game 2, with Walker Buehler in Game 3. Much of that still depends on usage tonight. https://t.co/Q8wPGafC6Y
