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The Los Angeles Dodgers entered Sport 5 of the NLCS with all of the momentum on this planet.
The NL West champions steamrolled the New York Mets in Sport 3 (8-0) and Sport 4 (10-2) to maneuver one win from advancing to the World Collection, however the Mets got here out swinging on Friday evening to increase the sequence and their season.
Nevertheless, the Dodgers did not merely roll over after falling behind 10-2 after 4 innings. They fought again to make issues attention-grabbing en path to a 12-6 ultimate rating.
The three-2 sequence now shifts again to Dodger Stadium on Sunday evening, and whereas the Mets nonetheless face a big uphill battle needing to win two video games on the street, they’ve at the least swung the momentum sufficient to make issues attention-grabbing.
Let’s dig into a number of notable takeaways from Sport 5.
Pete Alonso’s Case to Be Re-Signed Grows Stronger
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The Mets face a giant choice concerning slugger Pete Alonso this offseason. The homegrown star is about to succeed in free company for the primary time in his profession.
The 29-year-old reportedly turned down a seven-year, $158 million extension provide in June 2023 and will have a troublesome time exceeding that provide on the open market, contemplating the going price for an offensive-minded first baseman.
Nevertheless, the Mets might make bringing him again their high precedence this winter at no matter value is required, and he obtained the scoring began on Friday evening with a three-run residence run within the first inning.
Since bursting onto the scene with a rookie file 53 residence runs season in 2019, his 226 residence runs trail only Aaron Choose (232), and there may be little query he is one of many sport’s most prolific sluggers.
Between his tone-setting blast on Friday evening and his season-saving residence run off Devin Williams in Sport 3 of the Wild Card Collection, Alonso has confirmed he can provide you with the largest hit on the largest stage.
His market worth is definitely up for debate, however shedding him would create a evident void in the course of the Mets lineup.
The Mets can be sensible to maneuver shortly to finish a brand new deal this winter, assuring their homegrown star needs to remain for the foreseeable future.
Andy Pages May Be the Reply to Changing Teoscar Hernández
Sarah Stier/Getty Photos
Assuming they make an out of doors addition to improve the shortstop place, the Dodgers have Tommy Edman penciled into the beginning heart discipline job and Mookie Betts manning proper discipline for 2025.
Left discipline is up within the air.
Slugger Teoscar Hernández has been an amazing addition to the offense on a one-year, $23.5 million, posting a 137 OPS+ with 32 doubles, 33 residence runs, 99 RBI and 4.3 WAR in 154 video games.
Given all the cash they have already got on the books and different potential areas of want, the Dodgers will possible let him stroll in free company, and he might be headed for a nine-figure payday as one of many high bats accessible this winter.
Whereas they may discover outdoors alternate options, rookie Andy Pages submitted his software to be the man on Friday evening when he turned the youngest player in Dodgers historical past with a two-homer sport within the playoffs.
The 23-year-old obtained off to a sizzling begin after making his MLB debut on April 16, and whereas he shortly leveled off, Pages nonetheless completed with a 102 OPS+ and 13 residence runs in 443 plate appearances.
With a 31-homer season at Excessive-A in 2021 and a 26-homer encore at Double-A the next season, he has a robust observe file of manufacturing, and his efficiency in Sport 5 serves as an amazing reminder he has the potential to be an affect offensive participant.
The Mets Offense Can Make Some Severe Noise
Starling MarteSarah Stier/Getty Photos
After plating simply two runs in 18 innings throughout Sport 3 and Sport 4, the Mets offense got here to life on Friday evening as they piled up 14 hits and 12 runs, and there have been standouts up and down the lineup.
- Pete Alonso: 2-for-3, HR, 3 RBI, 4 R
- Starling Marte: 4-for-5, 3 2B, 3 RBI, R
- Jesse Winker: 2-for-3, 3B, RBI, 3 R
- Francisco Alvarez: 3-for-4, 2B, RBI,
- Francisco Lindor: 2-for-4, 3B, RBI, 2 R
- Brandon Nimmo: 1-for-4, RBI, R
- Jeff McNeil: 2 RBI
In addition they pulled off a uncommon feat by not placing out your entire sport:
If the Mets are going to drag off the unlikely comeback on this sequence, will probably be as much as that offense to proceed shouldering the load, particularly when the Dodgers can put up a crooked variety of their very own at any level.
Will the Postseason Affect Jack Flaherty’s Free Company?
Jack FlahertySarah Stier/Getty Photos
Few gamers did extra to spice up their free company inventory throughout the common season than Jack Flaherty, who signed a one-year, $14 million take care of the Detroit Tigers final offseason following a lackluster 2023 marketing campaign.
He went 13-7 with a 3.17 ERA, 1.07 WHIP and 194 strikeouts in 162 innings, transferring from the Tigers to the Dodgers on the commerce deadline and persevering with to pitch at a excessive degree.
Amid a wave of accidents, he entered the playoffs because the Dodgers’ de facto ace, and his playoff efficiency to this point has been a blended bag:
- NLDS Sport 2: L, 5.1 IP, 5 H, 4 ER, 1 BB, 2 Okay
- NLCS Sport 1: W, 7.0 IP, 2 H, 0 ER, 2 BB, 6 Okay
- NLCS Sport 5: L, 3.0 IP, 8 H, 8 ER, 4 BB, 0 Okay
Will his shaky efficiency in Sport 5 affect his market this offseason whereas he tries to chase down a large payday?
He sits in a grey space between elite choices like Corbin Burnes and Blake Snell and mid-level choices prone to accept short-term offers, so it is not out of the query to assume this might transfer the needle within the flawed means on his incomes energy.
Barring a collapse, he ought to have at the least yet one more alternative to toe the rubber, however he was removed from his greatest on Friday evening.
Sean ManaeaSean M. Haffey/Getty Photos
The Mets will hand the ball to Sean Manaea with the season on the road on Sunday, and he has been the crew’s greatest pitcher for a lot of the 12 months.
The veteran left-hander had a stretch of 11 begins throughout the second half of the season the place he went 6-1 with a 2.63 ERA, 0.76 WHIP and 82 strikeouts in 72 innings, limiting opposing hitters to a .155 common throughout that stretch.
The 32-year-old has been incredible to this point this postseason as effectively, going 2-0 with a 2.65 ERA, 1.00 WHIP and 17 strikeouts in 17 innings over three begins.
He can be opposed by a bullpen sport for the Dodges, with rookie Landon Knack as a possible bulk reliever in an all-hands-on-deck strategy. A gutsy efficiency from Brent Honeywell absorbing 4.2 innings of aid work helped maintain everybody else recent.
The Mets gained 7-3 in Sport 2 when the Dodgers additionally went with a game-by-committee, so they are going to be hoping for a greater end result on Sunday whereas dealing with elimination.
Sarah Langs @SlangsOnSports
In all best-of-7 postseason sequence, groups which have gained Sport 5 when dealing with a 3-1 deficit have come all the way in which again to win the sequence 14 of 47 instances (30%)
underneath the present 2-3-2 format, groups heading residence for Video games 6-7 with a 3-2 edge have gained the sequence 38 of 52 instances (73%)
Will we see one other lopsided consequence after a sequence of blowouts?
Can the Mets maintain their season alive?
Are the Dodgers inevitable at this level?
See you all on Sunday evening!
