MLB Playoff Bracket 2024: Early NLCS Odds, TV Schedule and Predictions
The New York Mets and Los Angeles Dodgers will meet in the NLCS for the second time in their franchise histories.
The Dodgers solidified the matchup on Friday with an NLDS Game 5 win over the San Diego Padres.
Los Angeles will be making its 16th NLCS appearance, the most of any NL team, and it will try to get back to the World Series for the first time since it won the Fall Classic in 2020.
The Mets already took down the Milwaukee Brewers and Philadelphia Phillies during their magical run through the postseason.
New York has two extra days of rest ahead of the Dodgers before Sunday's Game 1 at Dodger Stadium. However, that might not mean much in the series because the Dodgers will have a day off to reset before the series begins.
The Dodgers own the edge in playoff experience over the Mets, but much will be made about one of their first-time NLCS participants: Shohei Ohtani.
NLCS Odds and Schedule
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To Win Series
Los Angeles Dodgers (-180; bet $180 to win $100)
New York Mets (+150; bet $100 to win $150)
NLCS Schedule
Sunday, October 13: Game 1 at Los Angeles (8:15 p.m. ET, Fox)
Monday, October 14: Game 2 at Los Angeles (4:08 p.m. ET, Fox)
Wednesday, October 16: Game 3 at New York Mets (8:08 p.m. ET, FS1)
Thursday, October 17: Game 4 at New York Mets (Time TBD)
Friday, October 18: Game 5 at New York Mets (Time TBD)
Sunday, October 20: Game 6 at Los Angeles (Time TBD)
Monday, October 21: Game 7 at Los Angeles (Time TBD)
Mets Looking to Continue Postseason Magic
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The Mets extended their incredible postseason run with an NLDS win over the Phillies that was finished off by Francisco Lindor's Game 4 grand slam.
Lindor and Pete Alonso will be expected to carry the Mets in the star-studded series, but other players could be vital to the success against the Dodgers.
Mark Vientos had one of the best hitting series against the Phillies with nine hits in 16 at-bats.
The pitching staff came through as well. All of the Mets starters held the Phillies to three runs or fewer.
New York has the formula in place to combat the Dodgers, especially when it comes to pitching.
The Mets can trot out Sean Manaea, Luis Severino, Jose Quintana and Kodai Senga over the first four games and have David Peterson in reserve to back up any of them.
Senga is the biggest wild-card going into the NLCS because he only pitched two innings in his surprise Game 1 start. More length from Senga could hand the Mets an even stronger advantage over a Dodgers rotation that is weak on the back end.
A series victory would put the Mets back in the World Series for the first time since 2015, and they could potentially meet their cross-town rival, the New York Yankees, in the Fall Classic for the second time in history.
Dodgers Looking for First World Series Berth Since 2020
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The Dodgers have consistently been one of the best regular-season teams in the majors.
But postseason success has not come easy for the Dodgers, especially since their World Series triumph in 2020.
The Dodgers avoided a third straight NLDS exit at the hands of a divisional foe with their come-from-behind series win over the San Diego Padres.
Teoscar Hernandez and Enrique Hernandez delivered the big home runs in the series-clinching win over the Padres.
The Dodgers received contributions from up and down their order to get past San Diego, and that is what makes them dangerous to New York's starters.
It's not all Shohei Ohtani or Mookie Betts. Teoscar Hernandez had a fantastic season in the No. 4 spot, Enrique Hernandez has 14 career home runs and there's still Max Muncy and Will Smith sitting in the middle of the order.
At its best, Los Angeles' lineup is more rounded than New York's set of hitters, and that order is loaded with postseason experience.
The Dodgers will have to rely on their lineup over a few games because of how their rotation sets up. Jack Flaherty and Walker Buehler will most likely throw Games 1 and 2, Yoshinobu Yamamoto should pitch in Game 3, but after that, there's no starting depth.
If the series lasts six or seven games, the Dodgers may have some taxed bullpen arms, which is why it is imperative for the lineup to have a few big games. That could either end the series early, or provide some relief to some of the high-leverage arms.
Prediction
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The Mets are the hot team with all the postseason magic, but the Dodgers can counter that with superstar power and postseason experience.
The Dodgers seemed to figure out their pitching in Games 4 and 5 by holding San Diego to zero runs over 18 innings.
The Dodgers need their top bullpen arms to perform at the same level at the start of the series to back up what they hope are quality starts from Flaherty and Buehler.
Los Angeles is also equipped to win high-scoring games, like it did in the 7-5 Game 1 over the Padres.
The Mets can win that way too, but they are a bit behind the Dodgers when it comes to top-to-bottom power.
Muncy, Smith and others could be the X-factors in certain games for the Dodgers and that could decide the series.
Prediction: Los Angeles over New York Mets in 6 games.
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