Who are the Dodgers playing next? All you need to know about thrilling NLCS showdown at Dodger Stadium
The Los Angeles Dodgers are through to their first National League Championship Series since 2021 after defeating divisional rivals San Diego Padres in the NLDS. The Dodgers will face the New York Mets in the pennant-clinching series who made it there after an upset win in their division series against the much fancied Philadelphia Phillies.
After going down 2-1 in the series, the Dodgers pulled off two comeback shutout victories. Their starting pitching looked weak in Games 2 and 3 but manager Dave Roberts mastered an incredible bullpen in Game 4 that led to a 8-0 win.
On Friday, all eyes were again on Yoshinobu Yamamoto who started on the mound, and he put in a decent effort with two hits in 5.0 innings pitched before relievers completed the job. They held the Padres scoreless while two solo home runs from Kike Hernandez and Teoscar Hernandez were enough to push them over the line.
The New York Mets, meanwhile, will be the better-rested of the two teams. They were able to win in four games against the Phillies. After splitting two games in Philly, New York won both their games at home. In the three wins they got, the Metsies held the Phillies to just five runs.
The win was the Mets' first-ever postseason series-clinching victory since Citi Field's inauguration. The ballpark has been in use since 2009 replacing the Mets' Shea Stadium.
Dodgers vs. Mets: National League Championship Series schedule
The Dodgers had the best record in all of baseball this year which has given them home-field advantage for the entire postseason. The NLCS is played out in the 2-3-2 format with the team with the better record playing the first two at home followed by a road trip to their opponents before returning home again, if needed.
The first home stretch is on Oct. 13 and 14 at Dodger Stadium. Both teams will then fly to Queens with an off day in between. Three back-to-back games are scheduled from Oct. 16 to 18, provided Game 5 is needed. If the series requires Games 6 and 7 then it will be played out on Oct. 20 and 21 on the west coast.
Who do you think between the Los Angeles Dodgers and New York Mets will win the NLCS and book their spot in the World Series? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section below.