Los Angeles Dodgers Near World Series after Dominating New York Mets in NLCS

The Los Angeles Dodgers are on the brink of securing a spot in the World Series after overpowering the New York Mets with a comprehensive 10-2 victory on Thursday night. This win granted the Dodgers a commanding 3-1 lead in the best-of-seven National League Championship Series, placing them just one game away from the championship duel, where they await the winner of the New York Yankees vs. Cleveland Guardians in the American League Championship Series.

Despite a strong performance to clinch a playoff spot with a 67-40 finish, the Mets find themselves in dire need of a turnaround. “We’ve shown the whole year, this is a group that is resilient,” Mets manager Carlos Mendoza commented, emphasizing his team’s grit and determination.

The Dodgers’ lineup demonstrated its prowess yet again, with Shohei Ohtani ending a hitting slump by launching a home run to start the game. Mookie Betts followed with an impressive performance, going 4-for-6, including a homer and four RBIs. Max Muncy also made history by reaching base 12 consecutive times, setting a new postseason record.

The Dodgers excelled in both batting and pitching. Their batters accumulated 31 walks in the series’ first four games, marking a new postseason record for patience at the plate. Dodgers starter Yoshinobu Yamamoto struck out eight in just over four innings, contributing to the Dodgers’ pitching dominance.

The Mets, who expected to leverage their superior starting pitching, struggled as the Dodgers battered their rotation. Jose Quintana, a standout during the regular season with a 0.57 ERA in his last eight starts, surrendered five runs across just 3 2/3 innings in Game 4.

As Dodgers manager Dave Roberts explained before the game, “The back-to-back games and one tomorrow, just trying to feel kind of make a decision what puts [the players] in the best position for the games going forward.” The Dodgers’ strategic management of their rotation has paid off, as evidenced by their recent success.

Enrique Hernandez and Tommy Edman contributed key hits, aiding their team in securing an insurmountable lead. Catcher Will Smith also supported the Dodgers with an RBI single, extending their advantage.

For the Mets, the night encapsulated the struggles they have faced throughout the series. Despite valiant efforts to rally, including Mark Vientos matching a franchise record with his fourth playoff homer, the team fell short against the formidable Dodgers.

The Dodgers’ recent streak of dominance includes four shutouts across five postseason games, an achievement shared by only seven other teams in history, as reliever Blake Treinen noted, “Our defense has been playing great behind us. The offense makes it a lot easier for us because they get the early lead.”