Many pundits like myself thought the Dodgers' pitching staff would be exposed in the postseason.
It looks like freezing cold now.
After defeating the Mets 9-0 in Game 1 of the NLCS on Sunday, the Dodgers extended consecutive scoreless innings to 33, tying an MLB playoff record.
That record could all be theirs in Game 2 against the Mets on Monday at Dodger Stadium. Here are the predictions and selections for the match:
Mets vs. Dodgers Game 2 odds
| team | money line | run line | over/under |
|---|---|---|---|
| mets | +124 | +1.5 (-180) | o8.5 (-110) |
| dodgers | -148 | -1.5 (+150) | u8.5 (-110) |
Mets vs Dodgers game 2 predictions
The Dodgers' relievers posted a 3.07 ERA in the final month of the regular season, and carried that good form into the playoffs.
Their bullpen has a total ERA of 2.22 in 24 1/3 innings this postseason, and they have been completely dominant since losing 1-2 in the NLDS series against the Padres.
Manager Dave Roberts will rely on that strength in Monday's second game against the Mets. The veteran captain is considering using a bullpen game and bringing in ace Walker Buehler later in the series.
Roberts' bullpen is in great shape, so this decision makes sense. Evan Phillips is the only Dodgers relief pitcher to have thrown nine or more pitches over the past three days.
The Mets took a gamble by starting Kodai Senga in Game 1, but will now use Sean Manaea as a more reliable arm.
Manaea pitched 12 innings in the postseason, allowing just three earned runs. He currently has a 3.25 ERA in his past 10 starts and a 22.6% K/BB ratio over that span.
In those 10 starts, Manaea has reduced his zone contact rate to 81.6% and increased his swinging strike rate to 12.4%. He has adjusted his arm slot and paired it with a new look sinker, and it's effective.
Manaea posted .304 and .324 slugging percentages in his first and second stints through the order this season, respectively, but those numbers jump to .430 in his third encounter with a batter.
The Dodgers have had a relatively even ratio of left-handed and right-handed pitchers at bat this season. Since the All-Star break, they hold a wRC+ of 122 against left-handed pitchers and rank 12th in BB/K with a 34.1% hard hit rate.
The Mets also had fairly balanced splits at the plate, posting a 104 wRC+ against right-handed pitchers in the second half and a 110 wRC+ against left-handed pitchers over the same span.
Mets vs. Dodgers Game 2 Pick
Roberts might not be in the worst situation here. He has a lot of elite arms in good shape and is going to play a competitive game early with a well-rested bullpen.
The Dodgers will have a tough matchup against Manaea, who has been pitching like a legitimate ace for the past two months after making some notable adjustments.
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The 4.5 runs allowed in the first five innings is a lot for a game at Dodger Stadium, but I don't know if this matchup justifies it. If it's better than -125, I think it's worth betting on the first 5 under.
Best bet: Less than 4.5 runs in F5 innings (115, bet 365)
Why trust New York Post Betting?
Nicholas Martin handicaps the NHL, MLB and NFL for the New York Post. He strives to include relevant game notes in his articles to help bettors reach their own conclusions, but he's also up 180 units himself on the sports betting app's verified picks. Nick can be found at X @nickm_hockey.
