- What: MLB National League Championship Series Game
- When: October 18, 2024
- Who: Los Angeles Dodgers vs. New York Mets
- Time: 2:08 p.m. PST
- Where: Citi Field (Queens, NY)
The New York Mets host the Los Angeles Dodgers for a do-or-die Game 5 in the National League Championship Series on Friday afternoon.
The Dodgers took a commanding 3-1 series lead after another blowout victory over the Mets. They defeated the Mets 10-2 yesterday and have outscored them by 21 runs in this series.
Los Angeles Dodgers
The Dodgers impressive offense has dominated the NLCS against the New York Mets. They’ve scored eight-plus runs in three of their last four games, showcasing their offensive firepower.
The Dodgers lineup is powered by their two MVP superstars, shortstop Mookie Betts and designated hitter Shohei Ohtani. Betts has been on fire in the past few games, showcasing his exceptional hitting abilities.
In the 2024 MLB playoffs, he boasts a .278 batting average with three home runs, 10 RBI, and 10 total hits. His standout performance Thursday night saw him go 4-for-6 with a home run and four RBIs.
Today's #NLCS Game 5 Dodgers lineup at Mets: pic.twitter.com/3wGSw9u6pJ
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) October 18, 2024
Ohtani’s powerful swing allows him to generate the necessary power to send the ball out of the park. The 30-year-old has hit three home runs and he has nine RBIs and eight hits throughout so far this postseason. In Game 4, Ohtani went 1-for-3 with a solo home run. He has now hit a home run in two consecutive games.
The Dodgers pitching has been arguably more impressive than their hitting, limiting the Mets top offense to only nine runs in four games. Pitcher Jack Flaherty, who started Game 1 held the Mets scoreless for seven innings will be taking the mound for Los Angeles.
New York Mets
In the pivotal Game 5, the Mets are counting on lefty David Peterson to start his first career postseason game against the Dodgers.
Despite starting the season on the injured reserve list and missing his first start until late May, Peterson has had a standout year, finishing with a 10-3 record and a 2.90 ERA in 21 starts.
The Mets are 2-1 record against the Dodgers with Peterson as their starting pitcher. His only loss came in a 10-3 defeat in May when the left-hander made his season debut.
The Mets have the best record in the majors since June 1st and have won eight of their last 11 home games. They are looking for a bounce-back performance after their batters went 0-for-10 with runners in scoring position, leaving 12 men on base in the previous game.
Ya Gotta Believe #LGM pic.twitter.com/a6NGipZbYp
— x – New York Mets (@Mets) October 18, 2024
After such a lackluster Game 4 performance, the Mets lineup will need to perform better if they want to play a Game 6. Third baseman Mark Vientos has been a standout hitter in the playoffs, batting .370 with four home runs, 12 RBIs, and seven runs scored.
Shortstop Francisco Lindor has also been strong in the postseason, hitting two home runs and batting in seven RBIs. However, the Mets need the rest of the lineup to step up if they want to keep up with this Dodgers offense.
Mets-Dodgers Best Bet
The Dodgers have dominated this series. Their lineup has scored runs quickly to put the Mets behind in three of their first four games.
While there were questions regarding the Dodgers pitching strategy, their lineup has given them so much run support that it hasn’t been an issue. That being said, the Mets did have a tremendous Game 2, blanking the Dodgers 7-0.
This Mets team has played their best baseball this season when their backs have been against the wall. They delivered in the double-header game against the Atlanta Braves on the final day of the season. They also came through in the 9th inning against the Milwaukee Brewers in the National League Wild Card round.
The total is set at 7.5 runs, and it feels like a sharp number by the oddsmakers. I’m picking a side instead of this total. If the Dodgers are going to win this series, I have a feeling it will be back in LA.
The Mets are underdogs at +114 on the moneyline, but it feels premature to write them off. The Mets on the moneyline is the best bet in this one.
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Tony Reyes is a sports betting analyst and reporter for Dice City Sports. You can follow him on X @TonyParlay.
