The Mets next test is the biggest one to-date, regardless of the opponent
Both the Dodgers and the Padres are formidable - which one matches up best for the Mets?
What’s Up with the Mets? 🚩
The Mets don’t yet know who their next opponent will be but they’ll be ready for whoever it is (NY Post)
The Mets stars stepped up against the Phillies but there are others who deserve recognition for this magical run as well (NY Post)
Former Met Daniel Murphy believes this team has what it takes to go all the way (MLB.com)
Mark Vientos received a hero’s welcome when he was shown on the big screen at the Liberty game (X.com)
Injury Updates 🏥
2B Jeff McNeil (fractured right wrist) is set to play in the Arizona Fall League this weekend ahead of the NLCS, at which point he is expected to be added to their roster
The Mets are off until Sunday, at which point they will begin the 2024 National League Championship Series either at Petco Park in San Diego or Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles.
First pitch is set for 8:15 PM ET on Sunday.
No matter what, the next playoff opponent for the Mets will be the most formidable to-date…. ✍️
By bedtime tonight, the Mets should know their destination for the NLCS.
They’ll either be headed to San Diego or Los Angeles for Game 1 of the National League Championship Series, which begins on Sunday at 8:15 PM ET. It will be one of the Dodgers or the Padres, who will settle their score in Los Angeles tonight with the winner facing the Mets less than 48 hours after.
But no matter who the Mets’ opponent will be in the NLCS, both teams will be a tough challenge to overcome as they continue their journey towards the World Series.
The good news for the Mets is they will be rested heading into the series. They get to reset their rotation and choose between either Sean Manaea on regular rest for Game 1, or perhaps go with a combination of Kodai Senga and David Peterson instead. They also get some much needed rest for their bullpen, specifically for Phil Maton, Ryne Stanek and the all-important Edwin Diaz, all of whom have been overworked in the last two weeks.
Meanwhile, the Padres and Dodgers are fighting just to play the Mets on Sunday, and will have to use some of their best pitchers if they want to make it to the next round.
Los Angeles will start Yoshinobu Yamamoto and San Diego has Yu Darvish listed as their starter for Game 5. The Dodgers have heavily taxed their bullpen in their Division Series already, and could do the same on Friday as well.
If the Padres advance, the Mets avoiding Darvish in Game 1 is a huge win for them.
For his career, the Mets are hitting just .187/.251/.326 against Darvish in ten games, and is 5-1 with a 3.23 ERA in his career against them. Recall, Darvish took Game 1 of the Wild Card round in 2022 when the Mets lost 7-1 at home. Joe Musgrove unfortunately needs Tommy John surgery so the Mets will not get a rematch with the man who ended their season two years ago which, for them anyway, is another break in the matchup.
Even with Musgrove out, Michael King had a phenomenal season for the Padres, so he’s no slouch going forward. He was 13-9 with a 2.95 ERA and 201 strikeouts in 173.2 innings pitched although he has had more mixed results in the postseason. Against the Braves, King pitched seven shutout innings and struck out 12 while against the Dodgers he has given up five earned runs in five innings and only struck out three so far.
While the Padres rotation can be dominant lead by Darvish and King, their lineup is also fearsome with Luis Arraez, Manny Machado, Jurickson Profar, and Fernando Tatis Jr.
This is a well constructed team that very easily could have taken the division from the powerhouse Dodgers.
As for the Dodgers, their strength is their offense lead obviously by presumptive league MVP Shohei Ohtani. They also have Mookie Betts, Max Muncy, and Freddie Freeman, although Freeman has been dealing with an ankle injury that saw him scratched from the lineup for Game 4. This is a lineup built to outslug their opponent which they showed they are more than capable of in Game 4’s 8-0 win over the Padres.
Their pitching however is a different story.
Walker Buehler, Jack Flaherty, and Yamamoto all struggled against San Diego and the Dodgers were forced to throw a bullpen game in Game 4.
As such, the pitching matchup might favor the Mets if they face the Dodgers, although in the end, they finished with the best overall record in baseball and they probably have the best overall roster in the league as well.
During the regular season, the Mets were 2-4 against the Dodgers and 5-2 against the Padres. But all of that is out the window now, as the Mets proved against all of the Braves, Brewers and Phillies to get to the final 4 now. Getting to the World Series is not easy and will not be easy - the Mets will have another hard test they will need to pass if they want to reach their ultimate goal.
The Championship Chase 🏆
Gerrit Cole and the Yankees took down the Royals with a 3-1 win at Kaufman Stadium to advance to the ALCS, but not before a benches clearing incident between the two teams
David Fry hit a go-ahead two-run home run as a pinch hitter and then bunted in an insurance run in the Guardians win 5-4 win over the Tigers to force a Game 5 in Cleveland on Saturday
KC missed their shot in Game 1.
A well deserved day off for our boys yesterday. Now time to tune in to get to the next step. Motivation, you owe the Padres for several years ago, and the Dodgers though many of you were not born in team history you owe them a spanking for 1988! LET'S GO METS!!!