The highly anticipated National League Division Series between the New York Mets and the Los Angeles Dodgers is set to kick off with Game 1 on Friday. Both teams are coming off strong regular seasons and are looking to advance to the NLCS.
The Mets finished the regular season with a record of 102-60, while the Dodgers finished with a record of 106-56. These two teams are no strangers to success, with the Mets making it to the World Series in 2015 and the Dodgers reaching the NLCS in four of the last five years.
In terms of pitching, the Mets will likely rely on their ace Jacob deGrom to set the tone in Game 1. DeGrom had another stellar season, finishing with a 2.43 ERA and 242 strikeouts. The Dodgers, on the other hand, will likely turn to Walker Buehler, who finished the season with a 2.47 ERA and 241 strikeouts.
Offensively, the Mets will look to their power hitters Pete Alonso and Javier Baez to provide some runs. Alonso finished the season with 39 home runs and 111 RBIs, while Baez hit 31 home runs and drove in 87 runs. The Dodgers will rely on the likes of Max Muncy and Mookie Betts to provide some offensive firepower. Muncy finished the season with 36 home runs and 94 RBIs, while Betts hit 23 home runs and drove in 58 runs.
In terms of predictions, this series is expected to be a close one. Both teams have strong pitching staffs and potent offenses, making it difficult to predict a clear winner. However, the Dodgers do have the edge in terms of playoff experience and home-field advantage. The Dodgers have a strong track record in the postseason and will have the support of their home crowd at Dodger Stadium.
In terms of odds, the Dodgers are currently listed as the favorites to win Game 1. However, the Mets are a talented team and should not be counted out. It will ultimately come down to which team can execute their game plan and come up with clutch hits in key moments.
Overall, this series is shaping up to be an exciting one for baseball fans. Both teams have the talent and depth to make a deep playoff run, and Game 1 will set the tone for what should be a thrilling series. Fans can expect a hard-fought battle between two of the best teams in the National League.
Christina