Dodgers vs Mets: How have the teams fared against each other this year in lead up to NLCS 2024
The Los Angeles Dodgers became the latest team to book their place in the championship series after a shutout win over division rivals San Diego Padres in NLDS Game 5 on Friday. They will face the New York Mets in the NLCS 2024.
While it's expected to be an intriguing clash between the two NL teams when they start the best-of-seven series on Sunday, let's analyze how they fared against each other in the regular season.
How have the Dodgers fared against the Mets this year?
Dodgers won the season series against the Mets with four wins in six games. However, the two teams last played in May and the New York team has the best record in the MLB after the series against the Dodgers.
The Mets won the three-game series at Dodger Stadium with a 2-1 scoreline in April before being swept by the NL West winners at Citi Field the following month.
While the Dodgers progressed to the NLCS after a high-octane series against the Padres, the Mets have been up and down in the postseason so far. They got past the Milwaukee Brewers in the wild card series after being on the brink of elimination at American Family Field in Game 2.
They were the underdogs heading into the NLDS against World Series contender Philadelphia Phillies but a spirited performance by offense backed by a disciplined rotation saw them through to the championship series after four games.
What to expect from the NLCS 2024 clash between Dodgers and Mets?
Although the Dodgers' star-studded lineup featuring the likes of Shohei Ohtani, Mookie Betts and Freddie Freeman could be deemed as the favorites for the seven-game series, the Mets have shown more than enough to worry the NL West winners.
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts reflected on the challenge after the NLDS win:
“But the job's not done, and you will see the focus, the fire going forward, with the expectation to win eight more games. And that Mets team is playing really good baseball, but we'll be ready.”
The last time these two teams met in October, the Mets got the better of the Dodgers in the NLDS in 2015, winning a decisive Game 5 in their run through to the World Series that year. The Mets were the underdogs, much like they will be this year.
The series has all the makings of another thrilling postseason contest between two teams aiming for World Series glory.