Morning Briefing: Mets Head Back to New York Tied in NLCS
Good morning, Mets fans!
Francisco Lindor smacked a leadoff homer, and Mark Vientos punctuated a five-run second inning with a grand slam as the Mets evened the NLCS at one with a 7-3 victory over the Dodgers. After the game, Vientos said he took it personally when Lindor was intentionally walked right before the grand slam. Vientos is the youngest player ever to hit a grand slam in League Championship Series history.
Los Angeles had chances to get back in the game – it cut the lead to within 6-3 in the sixth inning, but Phil Maton got Kiké Hernández to ground into an inning-ending double play. The Dodgers got two men on with two out in the eighth inning, but Edwin Díaz got Hernández to fly out to end the threat. Los Angeles got the first two men on in the ninth inning, but Díaz struck out Mookie Betts, Teoscar Hernández, and Freddie Freeman in a row to end the game.
Sean Manaea issued four walks but allowed just two hits and two earned runs, striking out seven to earn his second victory of the postseason. As for Vientos, he tied a franchise record with his sixth multi-hit game of the postseason, matching Todd Zeile in 2000 and John Olerud in 1999.
Latest Mets News
The Mets and Dodgers get a day off before resuming action Tuesday. Dave Roberts announced Monday that Walker Buehler (1-6, 5.38 ERA) will start for the Dodgers in Game 3. Buehler got tagged for six runs on seven hits in five innings against the Padres in his first start of the postseason.
Brandon Nimmo told reporters that he expects to get a platelet-rich plasma injection and will be in a walking boot this offseason. Nimmo revealed after Sunday’s game that he has been dealing with plantar fasciitis since May and aggravated the injury during Game 3 of the NLDS.
Mets officials said after Monday’s game that Kodai Senga is fully healthy and there is no talk of removing him from the playoff roster. Senga said he struggled with his mechanics in Sunday’s loss.
Latest MLB News
Juan Soto and Giancarlo Stanton went deep, and Luke Weaver recorded a five-out save as the Yankees took Game 1 of the ALCS from the Guardians, 5-2. Carlos Rodón allowed just one run and three hits, striking out nine over six innings of work.
The Guardians will send Tanner Bibee (12-8, 3.47 ERA) to the mound to try to even up the series against Gerrit Cole (8-5, 3.41 ERA). First pitch is scheduled for 7:38 p.m.
Before Monday’s game, Clayton Kershaw told the FOX pregame show that he wants to pitch in 2025. The three-time Cy Young award winner missed most of the season after undergoing shoulder surgery last winter, then suffered a big toe injury over the summer. Kershaw has a player option for next season.
Major League Baseball announced that this year’s Division Series was the most-watched since 2017, and postseason viewership is up 18% from 2023. FOX Sports drew 4.091 million viewers, their highest total since the launch of postseason baseball on FS1 in 2014. ALDS Game 5 between the Guardians and Tigers on TBS was the most-watched Division Series game on any network since 2017.
Royals general manager J.J. Picollo said he expects the team to have a similar budget in 2025 to plug the team’s holes. Last offseason, the Royals inked Seth Lugo and Michael Wacha to multi-year contracts, both of whom started playoff games this season.
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Tyler Antonelle recaps the Mets’ win in Game 2 of the NLCS.
David Melendi looks at the struggles of the Mets’ offense in Game 1 of the NLCS.
On This Date in Mets History
1969: In Game 4 of the World Series, Ron Swoboda makes a stellar diving catch on Brooks Robinson‘s sinking line drive in the top of the ninth, though the tying run comes home to score on the play. In the bottom of the 10th inning, Pete Richert commits a throwing error on J.C. Martin‘s, allowing pinch-runner Rod Gaspar to scamper home with the winning run, giving the Mets a 2-1 victory and a 3-1 series lead over the Orioles. Tom Seaver pitches all 10 innings to earn the win on the mound.
1986: In Game 6 of the NLCS, the Mets score three times in the top of the ninth inning to tie the game at 3, featuring RBIs by Mookie Wilson, Keith Hernandez, and Ray Knight. The Mets finally take the lead in the 14th inning, but the Astros respond immediately with a game-tying homer by Billy Hatcher. In the 16th inning, the Mets score three runs on RBI knocks by Knight and Lenny Dykstra, as well as a wild pitch, but the Astros strike back with two runs to make it a 7-6. Jesse Orosco strikes out Kevin Bass to end the series, securing the Mets’ third National League pennant.
2000: After the Cardinals score two on a homer by Jim Edmonds in the first inning, the Mets tag Darryl Kile for seven runs in the first two innings, setting the tone for a 10-6 victory to take a 3-1 lead in the NLCS. Mike Piazza goes deep, and Glendon Rusch tosses three scoreless innings out of the bullpen to earn the win in relief of Bobby Jones.
2015: Daniel Murphy does it all, doubling home a run in the first inning, then stealing second and third base on the same play before scoring the tying in the third inning, then smacking a go-ahead homer off Zack Greinke in the sixth inning as the Mets advance to the NLCS with a 3-2 victory over the Dodgers. Jacob deGrom dodges traffic, holding the Dodgers to just two runs over six innings, Noah Syndergaard strikes out a pair in an inning of work, and Jeurys Familia records a six-out save to lock down the series.
Born On This Date: Lou Klimchock (1939), Huascar Brazobán (1989).
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