The Dodgers are expected to do well in Game 5 of the NLCS on Friday night.
“I know (the Mets) are back and ready to go,” Dodgers star Mookie Betts said after FS1 Thursday after a 10-2 blowout at Citi Field to take a 3-1 series lead. told the crew. “(Francisco) Lindor will probably give a great speech and get them ready to go.
“But so will we. We'll be ready to go haying tomorrow.”
It's clear the Dodgers intend to return to Los Angeles Friday night after the champagne celebration, rather than ahead of a possible Game 6 and 7.
The Dodgers won the first two games in New York convincingly, then cruised to an 8-0 victory in Game 3 and turned Game 4 into a laughing stock.
The Mets appeared to have momentum after winning Game 2 in Los Angeles before the series moved to Flushing, but the Dodgers have become very comfortable in the Big Apple.
In Game 3, Walker Buehler and Shohei Ohtani propelled the Dodgers forward, and in Game 4, Betts finished one game short of the cycle with a 4-for-6 performance including a 2-run homer and 3 RBIs.
“I can't explain it, but I felt really good. It's good to feel good. It was good to be able to help the team,” Betts said. “The pitching was really good and kept them off the board. It was fun.”
The Phillies' Nick Castellanos previously warned the Mets before a potential elimination game — when his team was on the brink of elimination — but the results were mixed. First, the Mets won Game 4 at home to set it up. This NLCS matchup with the top seeded Dodgers.
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Betts' threat appears to have a little more power, as the Dodgers have completely outplayed the Mets, except for a 7-3 loss in the bullpen battle in Game 2.
This bullpen failure certainly gives the Dodgers even more incentive to shut out this series. That's because the Mets will likely have top pitcher Sean Manaea starting in Game 6, and it looks like Los Angeles will have to turn to another “Johnny.” “Hall Staff” game.
Betts and Dodgers hitters will have a chance to throw a haymaker with David Peterson on Friday, while Los Angeles will counter with Game 1 hero Jack Flaherty.
The former AL MVP and two-time World Series champion said he's just “riding the emotion” because he's just one win away from qualifying for the World Series.
“Once the game starts, you have to ride that emotion and accept the highs and the lows,” Betts said. “Like I said, I've been trying to stay calm. That doesn't work in times like this, so you just have to enjoy the roller coaster ride.”
