"Don't forget Mookie Betts & Freddie Freeman behind Shohei Ohtani" - Carlos Mendoza confident on challenging Dodgers deep lineup in NLCS
With Shohei Ohtani, Mookie Betts and Freddie Freeman on top of the lineup, the Los Angeles Dodgers are among the favorites to win the 2024 World Series. To achieve ultimate glory, Carlos Mendoza's New York Mets stand in the way at the National League Championship Series.
Mendoza announced on Saturday that Kodai Senga will start on the mound for the NLCS Game 1 and Sean Manaea for Game 2.
When a reporter enquired how the Mets would take up the challenge of Ohtani, Mendoza replied:
"Don't forget Mookie [Betts] and [Freddie] Freeman right behind him [Shohei Ohtani]. That's what makes them really good. You know, that's three of the best hitters. Then you've got Teoscar Hernandez and Max Muncy and then Will Smith. I can go on and on. [11:18]
"Like I said, that's a pretty good lineup there. It's deep; they're versatile; they're righty-lefty, and they can do a lot of different things offensively. They can hit the ball out of the ballpark and control the strike zone. It's not a secret, so we'll be ready," Mendoza added.
Teoscar Hernandez and Kike Hernandez were the stars for the Dodgers in the National League Division Series, clinching victory over the San Diego Padres in Game 5. Ohtani had a good Game 1, while Betts found his footing in Game 3 and Game 4, scoring a homer each. Freeman's contributions have been limited due to an ankle injury.
Carlos Mendoza on whether Shohei Ohtani would receive special treatment
Aaron Judge has been walked numerous times in the regular season by opposing teams who fear his prowess. That has not been the case for Shohei Ohtani due to the Dodgers' deep lineup.
When asked about the possibility of giving special treatment to Shohei Ohtani [intentionally walking him] in the upcoming NLCS, Mets manager Carlos Mendoza said:
[It's a] 'pick your poison' kind of thing, because then you’ve got a former MVP in Mookie Betts hitting right behind him [Shohei Ohtani] and then another MVP, former MVP in Freddie Freeman. Like it goes on and on. [11:54]
"So, the game will dictate how we're going to approach certain situations and certain guys. But again, we'll be ready to go. We'll have a plan, and we've got to go out there and execute. We’ve got to go out there and compete."
In the NLDS against the Padres, Ohtani struggled against his hero Yu Darvish in Games 2 and Game 5. With another Japanese pitcher, Kodai Senga, starting on the mound for the Mets, it remains to be seen how Ohtani will perform.