2024 NLCS: A Rather Unlikely Hero Leads the Dodgers To Win the Pennant, Knocking Out the Mets in 6

NLCS Game 1: Jack Flaherty puts together a magnificent outing and Dodgers offense continues to roll as LA takes opener over the Mets (LAD leads 1-0), 10/13/24

NYM 0 – LAD 9, W (LAD leads 1-0): Jack Flaherty had a marvelous outing, and the offense was relentless tonight, as the Dodgers put together a dominant win in Game 1. Jack Flaherty started his evening with a 1, 2, 3 innings, giving the offense a chance to strike early. Kodai Senga, who made just 1 start this season, started Game 1 for New York, and struggled right out the gate. Senga struggled to command his pitches, walking 3 consecutive Dodgers to load the bases in the 1st for Max Muncy. Muncy lined a single into center field, putting the Dodgers on the board early with the 2 run single. Jack Flaherty kept on dealing on the mound and the Dodger offense continued to pile it on. The Dodgers played some small ball in the 2nd. Lux walked and Edman moved him over with a sac-bunt. Ohtani came up and lined a single into right, making it 3-0. The Dodgers did it again in the 4th. Kike singled and Lux moved him over to 2nd on a sac-bunt. Then Edman came up and lined a single the other way, to put the Dodgers up 4. Ohtani kept the train rolling, just missing a home run, settling for an RBI single. Then Freddie drove in Shohei on his second hit of the night to make it a 6 run lead. Jack Flaherty became the first Dodger starter in 3 years to pitch into the 7th inning, finishing his night with 7 shutout innings and 6 strikeouts. Mookie Betts broke this one open with a bases-clearing, 3 run double in the 8th to make it a 9 run game! Ben Casparius closed out a huge Game 1 victory for LA. Since the 2nd inning of Game 3 of the NLDS, the Dodgers pitching staff has not allowed a run since, combining for 33 consecutive scoreless innings, tying a Postseason record! LA has also put up 3 consecutive shutout wins. The Dodgers will look to take a commanding 2-0 series lead if they can win tomorrow. Game 1 – 10/13/24

NLCS Game 2: Dodgers bullpen game doesn’t go according to plan, offense struggles to hit with runners in scoring position, as Mets tie series at 1, (Series tied 1-1), 10/14/24

NYM 7 – LAD 3, L (Series tied 1-1): The Dodgers looked like they were in good shape heading into Game 2, but this one didn’t go as planned. The Dodgers elected to go to another bullpen game, their second in the last three games. This one got off to a bad start quickly, as Francisco Lindor launched a leadoff home run off Ryan Brasier. The Mets turned this one into a laugher in the 2nd. Landon Knack came in and struggled for LA, as Starling Marte singled and Jesse Winker walked to get runners on 1st and 2nd. Tyrone Taylor made it a 2-0 game with a double. Then, the Dodgers intentionally walked Lindor which ended up costing them the game, loading the bases for Mark Vientos. Vientos crushed one to deep right-center for a grand slam. Vientos has been on a tear this Postseason, saying that he “took it personal” after the game. Knack left this one giving up 5 runs in the 2nd. The Dodgers did chip away, making this one interesting. Max Muncy hit a home run in the 5th off Sean Manaea. In the 6th, Mookie and Teoscar were able to draw walks and Freddie reached on an error, as LA loaded the bases. Tommy Edman came up and hit a 2 run single, making it a 3 run game. But Kike Hernandez grounded into an inning-ending double play. The Dodgers had another chance to make it closer in the 8th, putting runners on 2nd and 3rd with 2 out, but Kike flew out to end the inning. Edgardo Henriquez gave up a run in the 9th on a single from Starling Marte, turning into a 7-3 game. The Dodgers had more traffic on the bases in the 9th, starting the inning with a single from Pages and a walk from Ohtani against Edwin Diaz. But Betts, Hernandez, and Freeman all struck out, as the Dodgers dropped Game 2. The Dodgers will get the day off before getting back at it on Wednesday for Game 3, with Walker Buehler on the mound. Game 2 – 10/14/24

NLCS Game 3: Dodgers get back on track with bounce back performance from Buehler, another strong showing by the offense, (LAD leads 2-1), 10/16/24

LAD 8 – NYM 0, W (LAD leads 2-1): The Dodgers got back on track with another dominant, blowout win over the Mets. LA’s offense grinded against Luis Severino tonight, taking an early lead in the 2nd. The Dodger offense has drawn 7 or more walks in all 3 games of this series so far. Max Muncy walked and Teoscar reached on an error as LA got runners on 1st and 2nd. Gavin Lux grounded out but was able to move the runners over for Will Smith. Smith hit one off Severino’s glove as Muncy came in to score on an infield hit. Then Tommy Edman hit what looked to be a bases clearing knock, but was robbed, but was still able to bring a run home on a sac-fly. Meanwhile, Walker Buehler looked the best he has had all season. But Buehler got in trouble in the 2nd. The Mets loaded the bases, as J.D. Martinez drew a walk, Iglesias singled, and Tyrone Taylor walked. But Buehler struck out Alvarez and Lindor, getting out of the jam, and letting out a roar, silencing the Mets crowd. Buehler pitched from just the stretch today and was able to strike out 6 Mets over 4 scoreless innings. Buehler finished with 18 whiffs, the most he’s had in a game since October 3rd, 2021. Kike Hernandez continues to play hero in October though, launching a 2-run home run in the 6th to make it a 4-run game. Shohei Ohtani broke the game open with a mammoth shot in the 8th, as LA tacked on 3 more runs. Max Muncy crushed a solo home run in the 9th, as the Dodgers kept piling it on in New York. Ben Casparius pitched the final 2 innings of this one, as the Dodgers had another dominant shutout win. With the win, the Dodgers became the first team with 3 shutout wins by 5+ runs in 1 Postseason in MLB history. The Dodgers will look to take a commanding 3-1 series lead with Yoshinobu Yamamoto on the mound in Game 4. Game 3 – 10/16/24

NLCS Game 4: Dodgers take commanding 3-1 series lead behind Yamamoto’s is solid start and another offensive clinic, (LAD leads 3-1), 10/17/24

LAD 10 – NYM 2, W (LAD leads 3-1): The Dodgers offense put together a dominant performance led by the Dodgers superstars Shohei Ohtani and Mookie Betts, to take a commanding 3-1 series lead, putting the Mets on the brink of elimination. The Dodgers gave Freddie Freeman the day off, trying to manage his ankle injury, but it didn’t matter. Shohei Ohtani started the game with a leadoff home run, getting the Dodgers on the board early. It was Ohtani’s first hit this Postseason with no runners on base. But the Mets tied it up in the bottom of the inning as Mark Vientos launched a game-tying home run off Yamamoto. Yamamoto was able to retire 5 of the next 6 batters in though, and the offense picked him. Tommy Edman and Kike Hernandez have flown under the radar this Postseason but have gotten huge hits throughout this Postseason and came through in the clutch again. Shohei and Mookie got on base to start the 3rd with a walk and single. Edman lined a double into left to bring home Shohei and Kike got an infield hit as LA tacked on another to make it 3-1. The Mets threatened again in the bottom of the inning but were unable to come through again. Alvarez and Lindor singled to get runners on 1st and 2nd with no out. But Yamamoto was able to work out of the jam, getting Vientos to strike out for the first out of the inning. Alonso walked though, as New York loaded the bases. A hobbling Brandon Nimmo grounded into a fielder’s choice as the Mets cut the lead to 1. But Marte grounded into a force-out, as the Mets settled for the 1 run. Yamamoto settled in, finishing 4 and ⅓ innings with 8 strikeouts, just a strikeout shies of matching his career high, 9. Meanwhile, the Dodger offense kept on rolling, as the Dodgers knocked out Mets starter, Jose Quintana in the 4th. Quintana who had allowed 3 runs over the last 2 months allowed 3 in just the first 3 innings of the game vs. LA. Mookie Betts got the lead to 3 with a 2 run double. The Dodgers blew this one open in the 6th. Mookie Betts broke the game open with a 2-run bomb, skipping around the bases with his 3rd home run of the Postseason. Mookie drove in 4 runs tonight, a new career high for him in a Postseason game. In the 7th, Max Muncy made MLB history, knocking a single into right, setting a new Postseason record for the most consecutive plate appearances reaching base with 12! The Dodgers scored 3 more runs in the 8th, as Edman doubled in 2 more on his second hit of the game and Will Smith knocked in a run on a single. The Dodgers offense has drawn 30 walks this series so far, tying a record for most walks in the first 4 games of a Championship Series in MLB history. The Dodger offense scored 10 more runs tonight. The Mets have scored just 9 the whole series. Edgardo Henriquez took the final 2 innings of this one to close out another blowout win for LA. The Dodgers will look to win Game 5 to make another appearance in the World Series. Game 4 – 10/17/24

NLCS Game 5: Jack Flaherty struggles mightily as the Dodgers are unable to put the Mets away in Game 5, (LAD leads 3-2), 10/18/24

LAD 6 – NYM 12, L (LAD leads 3-2): The Dodgers were unable to put the Mets away in Game 5, as New York forced a Game 6 with a lopsided win over LA. The Dodgers looked like they were in business in the 1st, putting runners on 2nd and 3rd with no out. But Teo grounded out, Freddie lined out, and Edman struck out, ending the inning, as the Dodgers failed to score in the 1st. But the Mets were able to cash in with their opportunities early. Jack Flaherty made the start for LA and had no command of his pitches. The Mets got some traffic on the bases early, as LIndor led the game off with a single and Nimmo walked. Then, power hitter Pete Alonso, who has been really quiet in this NLCS, came through for New York. Alonso was able to reach down and hit a low slider to dead center for a 3 run homer, giving the Mets the momentum in the early. By the time the inning was over, Flaherty had already thrown over 30 pitches. LA tried to chip away in the 2nd as Kike walked and Pages singled, setting the table for Ohtani. Kike scored on a wild pitch as the Dodgers cut the lead to 2. But Mookie popped out to end the inning as LA couldn’t cash in again. The floodgates opened for the Mets in the bottom of the 3rd. The Mets first 2 hitters reached on walks to open the inning and Dave Roberts decided to stick with Flaherty to save the bullpen for Game 6. This decision snowballed on the Dodgers. Starling Marte doubled, Francisco Alvarez singled, Francisco Lindor tripled, and Nimmo singled as the Mets put together a 5 spot, making it an 8-1 game, putting this one out of reach. Flaherty left after the 3rd, closing the book on a horrendous start. Flaherty allowed 8 runs over 3 innings, while striking out no batters. One of the few positives in this game was Andy Pages, who launched a home run in the 4th off Reed Garrett. Mets catcher, Francisco Alvarez, had some words for Pages after he rounded the bases, but Pages took exception to that, launching his 2nd home run of the game in the 5th. Pages became the first Dodger rookie to have a multi-home run game in the Postseason. In the 6th, Mookie launched a solo home run, making it a 4 run game. Another positive for LA was Brent Honeywell, who saved the bullpen. Honeywell pitched a career-high 4 and ⅔ innings, saving LA from having to go to more relievers.  The offense was unable to muster up anything else the rest of the night, as the Mets forced a Game 6. LA will have another chance to clinch a spot in the World Series if they can win Game 6. Game 5 – 10/18/24

NLCS Game 6: Dodgers advance to the World Series as Tommy Edman leads the charge offensively, bullpen game goes according to plan, (LAD wins 4-2), 10/20/24

NYM 5 – LAD 10, W (LAD wins 4-2): The Dodgers advanced to the World Series behind Tommy Edman’s offensive outburst and another strong outing by the Dodgers bullpen, eliminating the Mets in 6 games. Prior to the game, Freddie Freeman was not in the lineup again, nursing the ankle injury which has been affecting his swing mechanics of late. The Dodgers got some criticism for punting Game 5 but decided it was best to save the bullpen for a bullpen game in Game 6, which ended up paying off. Michael Kopech was picked as the opener, marking the first time he had opened a game for LA. This one could’ve taken a turn for the worst. Michael Kopech was very shaky to start, and some bad luck allowed the Mets to take the early lead. Lindor walked to start the inning, moved to 2nd on a wild pitch, then moved to 3rd on a groundout, and then scored on a weak dribbler up the middle, hit by Pete Alonso. Right off the bat, the Dodgers were trailing to begin the game. But the top of the lineup set the table up early in the bottom of the inning. Sean Manaea got the start for the Mets and dominated LA back in Game 2. Manaea has had so much success since changing his arm angle, emulating the way Braves starter Chris Sale pitches. Shohei led the game off with a single and Teoscar hit what looked like a home run but ended up being a long single. Dave Roberts had a long conversation with him after the fact because of the lack of hustle. Luckily, this didn’t come back to bite them, as Tommy Edman pulled a double down the left field line, good enough to drive in Ohtani and Hernandez. Edman’s hit gave LA the lead, getting the crowd back into this one. In the 2nd, Kopech passed the baton to rookie Ben Casparius, who impressed in his last 2 outings, which were in blowout wins, earning an opportunity to come into a big game. Casparius went an inning and a third, pitching well when LA needed another arm to step up with a taxed bullpen. Anthony Banda entered in the 3rd when Casparius got in trouble and got 2 huge outs. With runners on 1st and 2nd with 1 out, Banda got Marte to pop up before hitting Tyrone Taylor, loading the bases. But Banda was able to strike out Jeff McNeil, escaping the bases-loaded jam in the 3rd. In the bottom of the inning, Tommy Edman and Will Smith powered the Dodgers to a 5 run lead. Edman launched a 2-run home run, making it a 4-1 game. Muncy walked and knocked Mets starter Sean Manaea out of the game. Then, Will Smith came up following the pitching change and crushed a 2-run homer to center to put the Dodgers up 6-1! Manaea, who pitched 5 innings, allowing just 2 runs while striking out 7 in Game 2, failed to make it through 3 innings, allowing 5 runs. The Mets tried to make things close, as Mark Vientos hit a 2-run homer off Ryan Brasier to cut the lead to 3, but that was the closest the Mets got the rest of the game. Evan Phillips pitched a scoreless inning in the 6th. In the bottom of the frame, Shohei got the Dodgers a big insurance run to bump the lead to 4 with an RBI single. Daniel Hudson allowed a run in the 7th, allowing the lead to get back to 3. Then, Dave Roberts pulled the final string, bringing in Blake Treinen for the 2 innings save. Treinen struck out the side in the top of the 8th. The Mets brought Kodai Senga, who struggled mightily in Game 1, to try to keep the lead at 3, but the Dodgers offense got to him once again. Chris Taylor started the inning off with a single and Shohei walked, setting the table for Mookie. Betts just missed a home run, banging off the top of the short wall in left, driving in a run on a double to make it an 8-4 game. Then, Teoscar hit a sac-fly to bring home another. Coming into tonight, Teoscar was hitless in the NLCS, but finished his night with 2 hits. With runners on 1st and 2nd with 2 out, Kike knocked in another run on the single as the Dodgers extended their lead to 6! Blake Treinen finished this one, pitching the 9th, as the Dodgers beat the Mets ending their season in 6 games! The Dodgers will face off with the New York Yankees, setting up what will be an incredible matchup! The Dodgers will be in the World Series for the first time since 2020, with a chance to silence the haters by winning a World Series in a full season for the first time since 1988. Tommy Edman was named NLCS MVP, tying Corey Seager’s record for most RBIs in a Postseason series by a Dodger with 11! The Dodgers will get a week off before taking on Aaron Judge and the Yankees on Friday. Game 6 – 10/20/24