Mets Face Off Against Dodgers at Citi Field

The Mets and Dodgers clashed once more, similar to their recent encounter in Queens. Back in October, the Mets sent the NLCS to Dodger Stadium, securing a Game 5 win at Citi Field. However, the Dodgers went on to claim victory in the series, propelling them to a World Series showdown with the Yankees.

As Carlos Mendoza noted, even with the recent NLCS history, both teams will showcase different rosters when they meet again this Friday at Citi Field. “They beat us in the NLCS last year. They’ve added more talent, and so have we,” Mendoza remarked. “It’s shaping up to be an exciting match.”

Both the Mets and Dodgers have made significant investments in high-profile free agents this offseason, drawing attention to the potential impact of their new additions—or the lack thereof. For instance, Juan Soto has struggled at the plate in New York.

Meanwhile, the Dodgers face their own challenges. Blake Snell is dealing with shoulder inflammation after signing a hefty five-year, $182 million deal recently, and has only taken the mound twice. The much-anticipated debut of MLB prospect Saga was a letdown; after a promising start, he suffered a right shoulder injury.

In the bullpen, Kirby Yates is sidelined due to a hamstring issue, and other key players like Tyler Glasnow (shoulder), Brooklynn Treinen (forearm), and Evan Phillips (elbow) are also on the injured list.

Mendoza pointed out that despite the new faces in the lineup, one thing remains unchanged: “They have a solid team. We’re a solid team. We’re prepared for them.”

As the Mets boast strong performances from Kodai Senga, Pete Alonso, and Francisco Lindor, the Dodgers counter with talents like Freddie Freeman, Mookie Betts, Shohei Ohtani, and Yoshinobu Yamamoto. While the Mets have started well against National League pitchers, Yamamoto will not pitch in this series.

Instead, they’ll face Clayton Kershaw on Friday, followed by Tony Gonsolin and Landon Knack. After a rough stretch of four losses, the Dodgers bounced back to defeat Arizona, keeping them in first place in the NL West. The Mets are trying to stabilize their offensive efforts, having lost five of their last seven games.

“Everyone knows the playoff history from last year,” said Brett Baty. “But we’re both good teams. It’ll be a fun series.”

Looking ahead, the Mets are set for an East Feast, with seven out of their next 22 games against winning teams aside from the Dodgers. After this weekend, they’ll venture to Los Angeles and face off against the Rockies, before heading back to LA again to take on the Dodgers.