The Dodgers had the best record in MLB this season, winning five straight against an impressive Padres team in the NLDS, but no team has been as competitive as the Mets for as long.
This will be the fourth time the two teams have met in the playoffs since the Dodgers won the 1988 NLCS and the Mets upset the NLDS in 2006 and 2015.
The Post's Dan Martin looks at how the teams are stacking up for Game 1 on Sunday night in Los Angeles.
on the plate
go on base
During the regular season, the Dodgers had the league's top offensive line and a relentless batting lineup, with Shohei Ohtani leading the charge, Freddie Freeman, Mookie Betts, and Teoscar Hernandez all having a hard time getting past.
However, the Mets' batting lineup flourished in October with the help of Mark Vientos, Pete Alonso, and Francisco Lindor.
Starling Marte showed some flashes of his old self at the end of the regular season and in the Wild Card Series, but is coming off a disappointing NLDS performance in which he went 1-for-11 at bat.
corner: Dodgers
force
There were no iconic moments in the first postseason series of Ohtani's illustrious career. It is hard to imagine that this will not change in the future.
Freeman returned from an ankle sprain suffered in the final week of the regular season, but showed little power in the National League and missed Game 4 of the series due to injury.
Ohtani, Betts, and Hernandez could fill that gap.
Alonso rediscovered his home run swing and Vientos made the playoffs after doing the same in the regular season.
And without a memorable home run from either Alonso or Lindor, the Mets' postseason series won't be over. Lindor shook off a back injury in September and helped save the season.
One might expect the left-handed/right-handed DH duo of Jesse Winker and J.D. Martinez to provide some power, but while Winker has contributed, Martinez hasn't played deep since Aug. 30. Francisco Alvarez hasn't done much in his first playoff experience.
corner: Dodgers
in the field
infield
With Freeman limping off with an ankle, Gavin Lux wobbling at second base, and Miguel Rojas' groin injury potentially flipping the left side of the infield, the Dodgers are shortstop Tommy Edman (usually an outfielder). He acquired Kike, who has been active for many years, in October. Hernandez is third.
There may be some issues in the future.
Even when healthy, the Mets' infield defense can be adventurous, with Vientos at third base and Alonso at first base.
However, Lindor has been a steady force in the middle of the infield.
corner: Dodgers
outfield
Injuries may affect the makeup of the Dodgers' outfield, but either way, Hernandez is as weak on the left as the Mets' Marte is on the right.
corner: Taira
on base path
Ohtani just finished his first 50-50 season in the league, but he didn't hit a single in the game against San Diego. Edman of the Dodgers and Harrison Bader of the Mets have some ability to steal bases, and so does Marte when he's in good shape.
corner: Taira
bench
If Jeff McNeil returns to the roster after missing more than a month with a broken wrist, he could be used in both the infield and outfield.
His return could impact whether Luis Angel Acuña makes the roster.
Bader and his gloves could be used to protect leads at center, similar to Tyron Taylor – if he's not in the lineup.
And Winker is a valuable left-handed hitter when he's not starting at DH.
Outfielders Andy Pages and Chris Taylor didn't play much for the Dodgers.
corner: Mets
on the mound
rotate
One of the many aspects of this series that is incredible heading into the season is that the Mets have a deeper, more stable rotation with Sean Manaea, Luis Severino, and Jose Quintana all healthy and pitching, and Kouhiro Chiga. The fact is that we will face the situation. After missing nearly the entire season with shoulder and calf issues, he's ready to contribute at least a few innings.
On the other hand, the Dodgers, who are thought to have a rich pitching staff, have Yoshinobu Yamamoto (who showed a great performance in the decisive game in Game 5), Jack Flaherty, and Walker Buehler, who is a shell of himself, and played in the bullpen in the shutout victory in Game 4. I had no choice but to rely on
corner: Mets
bull-pen
Over three postseason games, Edwin Diaz walked five batters and allowed multiple baserunners in each game. If this continues, the Mets will be in a predicament.
Trade deadline pickup Phil Mayton looks terrible. On the positive side, the Penns were helped by converting left-hander David Peterson to reliever, with Ryne Stanek and Reid Garrett sidelined.
The Dodgers couldn't have advanced without their pens, with key contributions from Michael Kopech, Ryan Brazier, Daniel Hudson, Evan Phillips, Blake Treinen, and left-handers Alex Bashear and Anthony Banda. It would have been. However, Bashear was forced to miss Game 5 due to a back injury, and his status is unknown.
corner: Dodgers
manager
Follow The Post's postseason coverage of the Mets:
Dave Roberts, who led the Dodgers to the postseason in each of his nine seasons, led Los Angeles back to the NLCS for the first time since 2021, and the team is aiming for its first World Series appearance since 2020.
Armed with a huge salary and Ohtani's historic season, anything less is a failure, and Roberts figured out how to beat the Padres with a battered rotation.
Carlos Mendoza's dream first season at the helm included a late-season playoff berth and two postseason series wins.
He makes his team play their best at the most important times of the year, and while Roberts has a better resume, Mendoza seems to have a Midas-like vibe right now.
corner: Mets
something intangible
Two of the National League's most expensive teams were expected to meet in the NLCS at some point in the future, but the Mets got here sooner than expected.
The Dodgers still face tremendous pressure to return to the World Series, but they are playing with house money.
Their only title since 1988 came during the coronavirus-shortened 2020 season.
corner: Mets
Series prediction
John Heyman
Mets 7th win
Both teams have great momentum and momentum, but the Mets are a little deeper in the rotation right now.
Dan Martin
Dodgers 6 wins
This was a memorable postseason run for the Mets, who have been playing playoff baseball for essentially a month. But the Dodgers may prove to be too much.
mike puma
Dodgers win 7
It was a magical run for the Mets, but the Dodgers' deep lineup and bullpen will be too much for manager Carlos Mendoza's team to handle.
Mark W. Sanchez
Mets win 6th
The Dodgers are nearly out of pitching staff and could be running out of gas after their emotional NLDS win.
Joel Sherman
Dodgers 7 wins
This is basically a prediction based on the bullpen and the feeling that the Dodgers will do more damage to the Mets group than vice versa.
mike vacaro
Dodgers win 7
Forget stories focused on magic. The Mets are here on merit.
And if they can steal one of the first two games in Los Angeles, the Dodgers might not make it out of Citi Field. However, the Dodgers were unable to secure the best record in baseball history through the lottery. And they're much tougher than the Phillies.
