The fairytale ending for the Mets seems to be slipping away. After suffering a heavy defeat, the New York Mets find themselves on the brink of elimination, trailing 3-1 in the best-of-seven National League Championship Series (NLCS).
The Los Angeles Dodgers delivered a resounding 10-2 victory over the Mets on Thursday night, placing them just one win away from the World Series. The Dodgers await the outcome of the ALCS between the New York Yankees and Cleveland Guardians.
Despite a strong finish to the regular season, the Mets, who went 67-40, now find themselves in desperate need of a miracle.
“We've shown the whole year, this is a group that is resilient. They have that grit. They fight and they're not going to give up. They're going to continue to play," Mets manager Carlos Mendoza said.
Facing the Giants
However, the Mets have struggled to find any semblance of competitiveness against the Dodgers, who have demonstrated their superiority. Mookie Betts shone bright with a 4-for-6 performance, including a home run and four RBIs, while Shohei Ohtani snapped a 0-for-22 slump by hitting a homer to lead off the game. The Dodgers’ Max Muncy also made history, reaching base 12 consecutive times, setting a new postseason record.
The Dodgers showcased their prowess by drawing an astounding 31 walks in the first four games of the series, a postseason record. Their pitching staff, too, has been formidable, limiting the Mets’ scoring opportunities.
“That’s what makes them such a good team offensively. They control the strike zone," Mendoza added.
Struggles in the Rotation
Dodgers starter Yoshinobu Yamamoto struck out eight batters over 4 ⅓ innings before handing the game to a dominant bullpen. The Mets, who were expected to leverage their starting pitching advantage, have seen their rotation falter. Only one Mets starter has gone beyond five innings in the series, with veteran Jose Quintana managing just 3 ⅔ innings on Thursday night.
Quintana, who had been one of the National League’s top pitchers in the previous months with a remarkable 0.57 ERA over his last eight starts, succumbed to the Dodgers’ offense, allowing five runs and losing his grip on the game.
The Final Blow
The Dodgers extended their lead further in the eighth inning with Tommy Edman's two-run double, followed by an RBI single from catcher Will Smith, resulting in a commanding 10-2 scoreline.
As the Dodgers reflected on their previous postseason struggles, they noted a trend: teams that swing freely often advance, while those that focus too much on discipline may falter. Max Muncy expressed this sentiment well, stating, “The teams that are making it to the World Series, they’re going up there and they’re getting their swings off, whereas we’re being too disciplined.”
As the Mets stare down potential elimination, their hopes for a fairytale ending seem increasingly out of reach.
