NLCS… Finally || Dodgers vs Mets Series Preview

Finally. The National League Championship series. After smelling it for a while, they finally are looking at it. Even after all the successful seasons, this is the first time since 2021 that the Los Angeles Dodgers are making it to the NLCS.

First things first, let’s get some stats out of the way.

The Dodgers played the Atlanta Braves in 2021. The Braves are in the NL East. This year, the Dodgers are playing the New York Mets who are also in the NL East. The Dodgers were 4-2 versus the Mets this season, but the Mets did very well at Dodgers Stadium and got swept at home. (Speaking of which, the Dodgers are playing another Acuna in the NLCS. This time, Ronald Acuna‘s brother, Luisangel Acuna.

The Mets scored 20 runs against the Dodgers this season, while the Dodgers almost scored double with 36 runs. Shohei Ohtani got 6 hits and so did Mookie Betts.

Now looking at stuff from the Mets side, this is their first NLCS since 2015 and the first time since 1988 playing in the NLCS. In fact, the Dodgers played the Mets in 2015 and also played them in 2006. This is their 4th postseason meeting ever.

For Francisco Lindor, he has eight hits (and got a hit in every game) versus the Dodgers this season. Pete Alonso, on the other hand, didn’t do so well with four hits this season versus the Dodgers.

STAR PLAYER POSTSEASON STATS:

• Alonso has a batting average of .273 with 6 hits, 3 homers, 6 RBIs, and 5 runs scored in the 2024 postseason.
• Lindor has a .259 batting average with 7 hits, a home run, 6 RBIs, and 6 runs scored in the 2024 postseason.
• Mark Vientos has a .429 batting average with 12 hits, 2 home runs, 7 RBIs, and 5 runs scored in the 2024 postseason.
• Betts has a batting average of .222 with 4 hits, 2 homers, 3 RBIs, and 4 runs scored in the 2024 postseason.
• Ohtani has a batting average of .200 with 4 hits, a homer, 4 RBIs, and 3 runs scored in the 2024 postseason.
• Freddie Freeman has a batting average of .286 with 4 hits in the 2024 postseason.

Okay. Done with the stats.

Dodgers vs Mets Preview

It feels unreal that the Dodgers made it past the NLCS. I know, I was the one who predicted that the Dodgers would win in 5 (which I got right), but did I ever think that it was going to be right? Did I have belief in the Dodgers winning? No! Even with the addition of Ohtani, Teoscar Hernandez, and Yoshinobu Yamamoto, I know that the Dodgers are prime chokers. Not just that, but this team is cursed with injuries which they’re dealing with even now, so how did they win this???

Ohtani did well, but in the win-or-go-home game against the Padres, he sucked, going 0-4. In reality, it was Freeman, T. Hernandez, and K. Hernandez who stepped up their game. Even with them having a huge impact, Mookie Betts had an even bigger one.

We all know the reasons for the Dodgers’ failures last year. They had absolutely no pitching. A valid reason. What wasn’t valid was the fact that Betts and Freeman only had one hit together all postseason long.

Another big reason why the Dodgers won the series against the Padres is because of Betts. Mookie had four hits. He had two HRs and while that may seem small, especially because this series was a slugfest (hitting and fans), in reality, if Mookie didn’t get a hit at all, I might not be writing this at all!

I think what Betts said on the postgame show was pretty neat. He said that when the Dodgers started the season, they were World Series favorites. When they played the Padres, they became the underdogs. It’s crazy

Now to the Mets series. Ever since September began, the only conversation I’ve been hearing involving both the Mets and the Dodgers is the MVP race. The Dodgers have Ohtani, who’s achieved a 50/50 season. The Mets have Lindor, who’s hit .273 with almost a 100 RBI season. Not just that, but his defensive play is great too.

See what’s off there?

Comparing Lindor to Ohtani is the worst thing to happen. Instead, by saying both of these players are the best on their respective teams? Now that’s something.

This is going to be an awesome storyline. The Dodgers were the team that everyone expected to win the World Series, and after giving away all their too players, the Mets were supposed to be the team that was going to finish second to last in the NL East. While many may have thought the Dodgers would be in the NLCS, nobody would’ve thought that it would’ve been against the Mets.

East vs West and a chance for a New York showdown. This Mets vs Dodgers series really has something to prove.

Main Image: Kiyoshi Mio-Imagn Images