2024-10-15 22:30:05
LOS ANGELES — After the Dodgers’ convincing win in Game 1 of the best-of-seven National League Championship Series, it looked like the team with the best record in the sport was on the verge of going on a dominant run.
But as they’ve done all season long, the Mets found a way to punch right back, evening up the series at one game apiece with a 7-3 win in Game 2 at Dodger Stadium.
“I want to go home,” said third baseman Mark Vientos, who hit the decisive grand slam in that game. “Playing in front of the New York fans is the best. I’m excited to get back.”
Through two games, the two historic NL powerhouses have shown exactly why they are three wins away from a World Series appearance. With the series shifting to Citi Field, it’s now a best-of-five series to determine who wins the NL pennant.
“It’s going to be a dogfight,” said Dodgers outfielder Mookie Betts. “They’re a good baseball team, but we are too. It’s going to be a long series. We expect it to be a long, tough series.”
When is the game and how can I watch it?
Game 3 will be played at Citi Field on Wednesday. First pitch is scheduled for 8:08 p.m. ET/5:08 p.m. PT.
All games are available in the U.S. on MLB.TV (authentication to a participating Pay TV provider is required). Live games are also available in select countries outside the U.S. For full details, click here.
Who are the starting pitchers?
Dodgers: RHP Walker Buehler (1-6, 5.38 ERA in the regular season)
The Dodgers had a chance to start Buehler in Game 2, but elected to save him for a road game because of his postseason experience. While this hasn’t been the season Buehler expected, the right-hander does like to perform in October. Even after allowing six runs over five innings in Game 3 of the NLDS against the Padres, Buehler has a 3.40 ERA in 84 2/3 postseason innings.
Mets: RHP Luis Severino (11-7, 3.91 ERA)
The Mets sent Severino back to New York early in advance of his Game 3 start. He’ll be operating on nine days of rest, which was partially by design. The right-hander has faded a bit down the stretch and into the playoffs, producing a 5.14 ERA over his last five starts, and he’s already thrown 104 2/3 more innings than he did a year ago. But the Mets remain plenty confident in Severino, who’s been a workhorse for them all season. He hasn’t faced the Dodgers since June 2023, when they rocked him for seven runs over four innings.
What are the projected starting lineups?
Dodgers: With the Mets going back to a right-handed starter, the Dodgers will lean on their most commonly used lineup in Game 3. If Freddie Freeman or Gavin Lux, who are nursing injuries, isn’t available to go, the Dodgers can use Chris Taylor or Andy Pages — though with the off-day on Tuesday, the Dodgers should be at full strength for Game 3.
Mets: Manager Carlos Mendoza has yet to write J.D. Martinez or Jeff McNeil into an NLCS starting lineup. That probably won’t change for Martinez in Game 3, considering Jesse Winker (4-for-15, two homers) has a solid history against Buehler, while Martinez is hitless in three at-bats against him. But it could change for McNeil, if the Mets want to give the 34-year-old Jose Iglesias a game to catch his breath.
How will the bullpens line up after the starter?
Dodgers: The Dodgers’ bullpen will be well-rested and ready to go behind Buehler. Given that all their high-leverage arms have yet to pitch in this NLCS, manager Dave Roberts will be extra aggressive if Buehler runs into any early trouble.
Mets: The big question here is whether David Peterson will be available after throwing 40 pitches in Game 1. Mendoza has indicated a desire to use Peterson as soon as Game 3, but doing so would probably take him out of consideration for a potential Game 5 start in place of Kodai Senga. Still, Peterson remains one of the Mets’ most trusted late-game weapons against Dodgers lefties Ohtani and Freeman.
Any injuries of note?
Dodgers: Freeman will continue to be a game-time decision as he nurses a badly sprained right ankle. Freeman has played in both games against the Mets and is expected to be there in Game 3. Lux is also nursing a sore hip and didn’t play in Game 2 against left-hander Sean Manaea. The Dodgers and Lux have said they expect him to be available.
Mets: Although McNeil hasn’t seen much live pitching since he fractured his right wrist on Sept. 6, he did pick up 10 plate appearances in the Arizona Fall League. Mendoza said McNeil’s contact approach lends itself well to a successful return despite his lack of recent reps. In any case, McNeil is fully healthy and capable of contributing when the Mets call on him.
Separately, Nimmo is playing through plantar fasciitis in his left foot. Although Nimmo aggravated the injury during the NL Division Series, it hasn’t cost him significant time and is unlikely to do so going forward. For Nimmo, this is a pain tolerance issue.
As for the seven players on the Mets’ injured list — Paul Blackburn, Christian Scott, Dedniel Núñez, Sean Reid-Foley, Drew Smith, Brooks Raley and Ronny Mauricio — none of them will return this year.
Who is hot and who is not?
Dodgers: Muncy is off to a strong start in the NLCS, contributing a two-out, two-run single in the Game 1 win. He was also responsible for the Dodgers’ first run off Manaea, a solo home run. On the other hand, the Dodgers are still waiting for Smith to show consistent signs of life at the plate this postseason. After going 0-for-4 in Game 2, Smith is now 2-for-23 in seven postseason games.
Mets: No one still playing in the postseason is hotter than Vientos, who has six multihit efforts in nine career playoff games, as well as three home runs and 11 RBIs. Earlier this month, Mendoza moved Vientos to the No. 2 hole in the lineup, where he’s likely to remain a fixture.
Nimmo — whether due to his foot or not — has notably cooled at the plate and doesn’t have a hit since NLDS Game 2. He has, however, drawn four walks over that stretch.
Anything else fans might want to know?
• This is the fourth postseason meeting between the Mets and Dodgers, dating to a 1988 NLCS win for Los Angeles in what’s still considered one of the greatest postseason series. The Mets earned some revenge in the 2006 NLDS, sweeping the Dodgers, and again in a highly entertaining 2015 NLDS win.
• While the Mets led Major League Baseball with a 67-40 record from May 30 through the end of the season, the Dodgers weren’t far behind, at 62-42. Both ranked in MLB’s top five over that stretch.
• With 11 RBIs already, Vientos is one shy of matching Curtis Granderson (2015) and John Olerud (1999) for the most in a single postseason in franchise history.
