Mets will face off against the Dodgers in NLCS

Plus, who the Mets should cut to make room for Jeff McNeil?

What’s Up with the Mets? 🚩

• The Mets will face the Dodgers in the National League Championship Series with Game 1 set for Sunday at 8:15 PM ET in Los Angeles

• New York has yet to name a starter for Game 1 with RHP Kodai Senga, LHP Sean Manaea and RHP Luis Severino all potential options. A decision will be made and announced later today

• LHP David Peterson - who hasn’t allowed a run in 6.1 innings of relief in the postseason - will keep a fluid role as a multi-inning reliever going forward

• The Mets will go through a full team workout at Citi Field later today, including live batting practice and defensive drills

• Manager Carlos Mendoza spoke to the press on Friday and said it would be a “dream come true” to potentially face the Yankees in the World Series (SNY)

• OF Brandon Nimmo also spoke about a potential all-New York World Series, but stressed that all the focus is on the “big obstacle” coming up in the Dodgers (SNY)

• SS Francisco Lindor was named as a finalist for the Hank Aaron Award, given to the top overall offensive performer in each league

• How the Mets went from one of the worst teams in baseball to World Series contenders in a matter of months can be used as a template for all businesses (Forbes)

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Injury Updates 🏥

• 2B Jeff McNeil (fractured right wrist) played in the Arizona Fall League on Friday - reaching base twice - and is expected to play seven-nine innings again on Saturday

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The Mets are off until Sunday, at which point they will begin the 2024 National League Championship Series against the Dodgers at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles.

First pitch is set for 8:15 PM ET on Sunday.

FULL SCHEDULE:

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Season Series 🥊

• The Dodgers won the season series over the Mets 4-2

• The Mets went 2-1 at Dodger Stadium April 19-21, and then went 0-3 at Citi Field May 28-29 - the Mets have been the best team in baseball since the Dodgers swept the Mets in that series at Citi Field

• The Dodgers outscored the Mets 36 to 20 in the season series

Offense ⚾️

• The Dodgers hit .258/.335/.446 with 118 wRC+, 233 home runs, 842 runs scored, 602 walks, 1336 strikeouts and 136 stolen bases

• The Mets hit .246/.319/.415 with 109 wRC+, 207 home runs, 768 runs scored, 514 walks, 1382 strikeouts and 106 stolen bases

Defense 🧤

• The Mets had 19 defensive runs saved (14th in MLB) with 8 outs above average (13th in MLB)

• The Dodgers had 65 defensive runs saved (3rd in MLB) with -4 outs above average (19th in MLB)

Pitching 💨

• Dodgers overall: 3.92 ERA, 686 runs allowed, 501 walks, 1390 strikeouts, held opponents to a .235/.304/.399 line with 198 home runs allowed

  • Dodgers rotation: 4.23 ERA, 393 runs allowed, 268 walks, 764 strikeouts, held opponents to a .244/.307/.420 line with 120 home runs allowed, averaged 4.9 innings per start

  • Dodgers bullpen: 3.53 ERA, 254 runs allowed, 233 walks, 626 strikeouts, held opponents to a .224/.301/.372 line with 78 home runs allowed, averaged 4 innings per game

• Mets overall: 3.96 ERA, 697 runs allowed, 586 walks, 1455 strikeouts, held opponents to a .230/.315/.373 line with 165 home runs allowed

  • Mets rotation: 3.91 ERA, 413 runs allowed, 335 walks, 807 strikeouts, held opponents to a .234/.312/.377 line with 78 home runs allowed, averaged 5.5 innings per start

  • Mets bullpen: 4.03 ERA, 284 runs allowed, 251 walks, 648 strikeouts, held opponents to a .218/.318/.366 line with 62 home runs allowed, averaged 3.4 innings per game

Mets and Dodgers - Playoff History 📖

• 1988 National League Championship Series: LAD 4, NYM 3

• 2006 National League Division Series: NYM 3, LAD 0

• 2015 National League Division Series: NYM 3, LAD 2

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Who should stay and who should go, if Jeff McNeil returns? ✍️

Corey Sipkin - NY Post

Now the Mets know who they must go through in order to reach the World Series and add another chapter to this truly remarkable season.

After beating the Padres in Game 5 on Friday, the Dodgers now lie in wait for the Mets with Game 1 set for Sunday in LA.

But, before a pitch is thrown, there is still some important business to be handled for New York. Firstly, a starter has to be named for Game 1 with SNY’s Andy Martino reporting that Kodai Senga will likely get the ball on Sunday.

The second order of business will be deciding who to cut if Jeff McNeil is indeed activated at some point this weekend.

McNeil played a full nine innings and went 1-for-4 with a walk in the Arizona Fall League on Friday. He’s expected to complete the process again on Saturday. Should the second baseman come through that outing without any problems, then McNeil is expected to make the team when NLCS rosters are submitted on Sunday.

But, who should be the sacrificial lamb if McNeil does make the team?

There are three options.

The Mets could look to omit a pitcher from the roster, meaning either Adam Ottavino or Danny Young would be cut. Neither reliever threw a pitch in the NLDS.

Alternatively, Luisangel Acuña could be cut from the NLCS roster in order to make room for McNeil.

So, what do the Mets do?

There isn’t a straightforward answer to that question and there are multiple angles to look at.

Let’s start with Ottavino.

Again, he didn’t throw a pitch in the NLCS and has been up and down all year with a 4.34 ERA. He would be the obvious candidate to cut because, at this point, he’s expendable. However, the argument against omitting Ottavino is the fact that the Mets bullpen is taxed and you need all the bodies you can get the deeper you get into October. Having Ottavino on the NLCS roster would be a useful insurance policy. And, if the Mets opted to utilize Ottavino, having an extra arm in the bullpen could prove hugely beneficial.

In that instance, Young would then become the favorite to get cut. But, in that scenario, the Mets would then be left without a lefty in the bullpen if David Peterson has to be used in long relief. And, given that Kodai Senga is likely to start Game 1, it is almost certain Peterson will be asked to pitch multiple innings on Sunday. It could be risky to cut Young given that he is insurance behind Peterson.

Of course, the Mets could opt to keep both pitchers on the NLCS roster and instead cut Acuña.

NY Post

The rookie has been relegated to bench duties and has had just two at-bats in the last five games. However, there is downside to cutting Acuña. Not only has he proven he can hit at the big league level, in addition to being solid at shortstop defensively , but his rapid speed is a real valuable weapon off the bench. That speed and the ability to cause havoc on the basepaths could prove to be the difference late on in close games against the Dodgers.

Furthermore, for as great as he has been, Francisco Lindor is still dealing with a back injury. That just hasn’t magically gone away. Having Acuña on the roster would act as an insurance policy should Lindor need to be spelled later on in games. Plus, again, you can’t underestimate how lethal a weapon Acuña’s speed could be in this series. Going up against an elite team like the Dodgers, you need every possible edge you can get your hands on.

Overall, if it were me making the decision - and thankfully it isn’t - the smart play would be to cut Ottavino and keep Young and Acuña on the NLCS roster. With both Peterson and Tylor Megill both effectively now part of the bullpen, Ottavino has become expendable and there are enough bodies in the pen to get by without him. The Mets would then still have another lefty in the bullpen in Young, as well as a legitimate speed threat in Acuña who could be used as a secret weapon and an offensive boost later on in games.

If McNeil is activated as expected this weekend, then Adam Ottavino should be the odd man out.

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The Championship Chase 🏆

• Yoshinobu Yamamoto delivered five scoreless innings and both Teoscar Hernández and Kiké Hernández homered as the Dodgers beat the Padres in Game 5 to set up a mouthwatering meeting with the Mets in the NLCS

• AL Cy Young favorite Tarik Skubal will be on the mound for the Tigers and Matthew Boyd will start for the Guardians in a win-or-go-home Game 5 on Saturday. The winner will face the Yankees in the ALCS