What you need to know
Dodgers defeat Mets 10-5 and advance to World Series
Dodgers lead Mets 6-3 heading into the sixth inning
Dodgers take 2-1 lead on Tommy Edman’s two-run double
Dodgers live up to their own expectations, defeating Mets to reach the World Series
The low point came 34 days ago.
During a late-season series in Atlanta, the Dodgers lost two games as their division lead dwindled. They learned Tyler Glasnow would become the latest, and most important, pitcher lost for the season to injury. For a brief moment, the team felt that people were “panicking,” as outfielder Teoscar Hernández described it, about their season. For one of the few times in a year full of adversity and unforeseen setbacks, manager Dave Roberts noticed confidence in his clubhouse waning.
So, in an uncharacteristic move for a manager who describes himself as “not a big meeting guy,” Roberts decided to call one, gathering his players before a Sept. 15 game against the Braves to deliver a simple reminder.
“We’re still the Dodgers,” Roberts told the group, as Hernández recalled. “We can do special things.”
Dodgers defeat Mets 10-5 and advance to World Series
⚾ Dodgers 10, Mets 5 — FINAL
Top of the ninth: Blake Treinen struck out Jesse Winker and got Starling Marte to ground out. Tyrone Taylor then singled on flare to center field.
Jeff McNeil then singled off the glove of Dodgers second baseman Chris Taylor, giving Tyrone Taylor enough time to score and make it 10-5 Dodgers. Francisco Alvarez grounded out to end the game.
Tommy Edman drove in drove four runs, two off a double in the first inning and two more off a home run in the third inning. Will Smith also hit a two-run home run.
The Dodgers will play the New York Yankees in Game 1 of the World Series at Dodger Stadium on Friday. The Dodgers last played the Yankees in the World Series in 1981.
Dodgers drive in three more runs in the eighth to take 10-4 lead
⚾ Dodgers 10, Mets 4 — End of the eighth inning
Top of the eighth: Dodgers reliever Blake Treinen struck out Brandon Nimmo, Mark Vientos and Pete Alonso on 12 pitches.
Bottom of the eighth: Chris Taylor led with a single up the middle off Kodai Senga. After Shohei Ohtani drew a walk, Mookie Betts drove in Taylor on a double off the base of the wall in the left-field corner to make it 8-4. Teoscar Hernández then drove in Ohtani on a sacrifice fly to right field.
After Tommy Edman reached base on a fielder’s choice and Max Muncy walked, Kiké Hernández drove in Edman on a single to make it 10-4 Dodgers. Andy Pages flied out to center field to send the game to the ninth inning.
Mets drive in a run off Daniel Hudson in the seventh
⚾ Dodgers 7, Mets 4 — End of the seventh inning
Top of the seventh: Dodgers reliever Daniel Hudson got Starling Marte to ground out before Tyrone Taylor and Jeff McNeil reached on back-to-back singles. Francisco Alvarez hit a sacrifice fly to right field to score Taylor, making it 7-4 Dodgers. Hudson struck out Francisco Lindor to end the frame.
Bottom of the seventh: Mets pitcher Kodai Senga hit Max Muncy with a pitch. Kiké Hernández then grounded into a force out at second base. Senga struck out Andy Pages and Will Smith lined out to left field.
Dodgers extend their lead on a Shohei Ohtani RBI single
⚾ Dodgers 7, Mets 3 — End of the sixth inning
Top of the sixth: Facing Dodgers reliever Evan Phillips, Francisco Alvarez lined a single to left over the outstretched glove of Tommy Edman to reach base for the third time. Francisco Lindor flied out to left and Brandon Nimmo flied out to center.
Phillips then issued back-to-back walks to Mark Vientos and Pete Alonso to load the bases. He got out of the jam by getting Jesse Winker to fly out to left field.
Bottom of the sixth: Will Smith drew a led with a walk before Chris Taylor reached first on a bunt after Mets first baseman Pete Alonso’s throw to second base was too late to force out Smith.
Shohei Ohtani singled to shallow center field to score Smith from second and give the Dodgers a 7-3 lead. Mookie Betts and Teoscar Hernández then lined out and Tommy Edman grounded out to cap the inning.
Dodgers lead 6-3 heading into the sixth inning
⚾ Dodgers 6, Mets 3 — End of the fifth inning
Top of the fifth: Jesse Winker led with a single to right before Dodgers reliever Ryan Brasier retired Starling Marte, Tyrone Taylor and Jeff McNeil in order.
Bottom of the fifth: Max Muncy grounded out and Edwin Diaz struck out Kiké Hernández. Andy Pages lined out to shortstop Francisco Lindor.
Mets strike back with two-run home run in the fourth inning
⚾ Dodgers 6, Mets 3 — End of the fourth inning
Top of the fourth: Francisco Alvarez led with a single to center off Anthony Banda. Francisco Lindor flied out to left field. Banda struck out Brandon Nimmo.
Ryan Brasier then took the mound for the Dodgers and gave up a two-run home run to Mark Vientos that went over the wall in center field, making it 6-3 Dodgers.
Pete Alonso then grounded out to short to cap the frame.
Bottom of the fourth: Facing Mets pitcher Edwin Diaz, Shohei Ohtani popped out before Mookie Betts drew a walk. Teoscar Hernández and Tommy Edman popped out to end the inning.
Tommy Edman and Will Smith blast Dodgers into 6-1 lead
⚾ Dodgers 6, Mets 1 — End of the third inning
Top of the third: Ben Casparius got Mark Vientos to ground out before Pete Alonso singled to short. Anthony Banda then took over on the mound for the Dodgers and walked Jesse Winker on five pitches.
Starling Marte popped out to second baseman Chris Taylor. Banda then hit Tyrone Taylor with a pitch, loading the bases and leading to a mound visit by Dodgers pitching coach Mark Prior.
Banda struck out Jeff McNeil to get out of the jam.
Bottom of the third: Teoscar Hernández led with a single to right field. Tommy Edman then hit a two-run home run into the left-field pavilion to give the Dodgers a 4-1 lead. Edman has driven in all of the Dodgers’ run so far.
Sean Manaea walked Max Muncy, prompting the Mets to replace him with Phil Maton.
Muncy stole second base before Kiké Hernández and Andy Pages flied out. Will Smith then hit a two-run home run to straight-away center field to make it 6-1 Dodgers.
Chris Taylor flied out to the warning track in right field to end the inning.
Dodgers lead 2-1 heading into the third inning
⚾ Dodgers 2, Mets 1 — End of the second inning
Top of the second: Facing Dodgers reliever Ben Casparius, Tyrone Taylor flied out and Jeff McNeil grounded out. Francisco Alvarez drew a walk before Francisco Lindor singled on a sharp liner to right, moving Alvarez to second. Brandon Nimmo popped out to Dodgers shortstop Tommy Edman to cap the inning.
Bottom of the second: Will Smith grounded out before Chris Taylor singled to left. Sean Manaea struck out Shohei Ohtani with a 94-mph four-seam fastball. After Taylor stole second base, Mookie Betts struck out.
Dodgers take 2-1 lead on Tommy Edman’s two-run double
⚾ Dodgers 2, Mets 1 — End of the first inning
Top of the first: Dodgers opener Michael Kopech issued a four-pitch walk to Francisco Lindor. He then threw a wild pitch well over Will Smith’s head, allowing Lindor to take second base. Lindor moved to third on a ground out to first by Brandon Nimmo.
Kopech struck out Mark Vientos on an 87-mph slider, before giving up a single to Pete Alonso on a fast-dropping jam shot that landed in front of second base. Chris Taylor charged and picked up the ball, but his throw to first was off the mark, allowing Lindor to score and Alonso to move to second on the throwing error.
Kopech followed by walking Jesse Winker, prompting a mound visit from Dodgers pitching coach Mark Prior. Starling Marte flied out to right field, capping the inning.
Bottom of the first: Facing Mets starter Sean Manaea, Shohei Ohtani led with a single up the middle. Manaea struck out Mookie Betts before Teoscar Hernández singled off the wall in straight-away center field, moving Ohtani to third. Hernández probably should have had a double on the play, but he didn’t run it out, thinking it might have been a home run.
Tommy Edman then drove in Ohtani and Hernández on a double into the left-field corner to give the Dodgers a 2-1 lead.
Max Muncy flied out before Kiké Hernández drew a walk. Alonso made a lunging catch in foul territory off a popup hit by Andy Pages to leave Edman and Kiké Hernández stranded.
Everybody chill! Dodgers are still in control of their World Series destiny
NEW YORK — Relax.
The Dodgers still own this. The Dodgers are still in control. The Dodgers still have the New York Mets right where they want them.
Two games at Dodger Stadium. Win one and advance to the World Series. Shohei Ohtani hot. Mookie Betts hotter. Andy Pages burning out of nowhere. A rested and nearly unhittable bullpen for Game 6. Walker Buehler prepared to throw legendary fists in a Game 7, if necessary.
Done deal, still.
Yes, the Dodgers blew their first shot at the Fall Classic on Friday night in a 12-6 loss to the Mets in Game 5 of the NLCS Friday at Citi Field, shrinking their lead to 3-2.
Shortage of healthy pitchers forcing Dave Roberts into high-risk balancing act
NEW YORK — In the aftermath of his team’s 12-6 defeat to the New York Mets on Friday night, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts lamented his inability to predict the future.
Because if Roberts had known Andy Pages would homer twice in Game 5 of the National League Championship Series, he would have removed starting pitcher Jack Flaherty earlier than he did.
When Flaherty encountered trouble in the third inning, Roberts might have turned to Daniel Hudson. Or perhaps Michael Kopech.
Instead, Roberts stuck with Flaherty, who gave up five more runs to increase the Dodgers’ deficit to 8-1. The loss reduced their advantage in the best-of-seven series to three games to two.
Two unsung heroes may have set up the Dodgers for success in NLCS Game 6
NEW YORK — The list of Dodgers center fielders to hit two home runs in a postseason game was not long. It consisted of one player, Hall of Famer Duke Snider, the former Brooklyn Dodgers star who homered twice in Game 6 of the 1952 World Series and Game 5 of the 1955 World Series against the New York Yankees.
That list doubled in size Friday night when Andy Pages, a 23-year-old rookie from Cuba, hit a solo home run in the fourth inning and a three-run shot in the fifth, both to left-center field, one of two bright spots for the Dodgers in a 12-6 loss to the New York Mets in Game 5 of the National League Championship Series at Citi Field.
Pages, who was demoted to triple-A Oklahoma City in August and had one hit and four strikeouts in his first 10 playoff at-bats, also singled in the second inning, a three-hit, four-RBI effort that the Dodgers were unable to capitalize on but which could be significant when the series returns to Los Angeles for Game 6 on Sunday night.
Dodgers hopeful their cautious bullpen usage will pay off in NLCS Game 6
All year long, the Dodgers have been reluctant to use their top relievers in “minus” games, as manager Dave Roberts likes to call contests where his team is facing an early deficit.
In Game 5 of the National League Championship Series, the cost of that strategy became clear.
A slim early-game deficit against the New York Mets ballooned to an insurmountable seven-run hole when the Dodgers left Jack Flaherty in for a five-run third inning. Even though the offense responded by scoring five times after that, the New York lead had grown too big for the Dodgers to complete a come-from-behind win.
Michael Kopech will be the opener for Dodgers in Game 6 bullpen game
Dave Roberts said the Dodgers’ would be more aggressive with their high-leverage relievers in their Game 6 bullpen game.
Given who is opening, he wasn’t kidding.
The Dodgers will start Michael Kopech on Sunday, using the closest thing they had to a designated closer at the end of the regular season first out of the gate in Game 6.
“I think we just all felt that it’s a part of a lineup that we like Michael. He’s started games before. And just feel that it’s the best chance to put up a zero in the first inning and then move forward.”
Who the Dodgers turn to after Kopech isn’t clear. But the Game 6 plan will almost certainly look different than Game 2, when rookie starter Landon Knack entering the game in the second inning and gave up five runs in an eventual 7-3 loss.
Kopech is a former starting pitcher who only shifted to the bullpen this spring with the Chicago White Sox. Since being acquired by the Dodgers at the trade deadline, Kopech has been dominant with his 100 mph fastball, posting a 1.13 ERA in 24 regular-season outings, including six saves, and five scoreless outings in the playoffs.
Freddie Freeman is hurting, and the Dodgers need to keep him on the bench
NEW YORK — Freddie Freeman should not be playing right now. Doctors told him that his sprained ankle generally takes at least four weeks to heal. He has played on the ankle for two weeks now, and the results are getting worse.
In the sixth inning of Friday’s game, Freeman got three 97-mph fastballs. He tipped one foul. He swung and missed at the other two.
Can he still generate the power needed to be productive at bat?
“I don’t know,” he said. “I haven’t had an extra-base hit in a while.”
Game 5 rewind: Dodgers can’t overcome Jack Flaherty’s struggles
NEW YORK — Before the sun had set in Queens on Friday night, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts faced a dilemma.
It was the third inning of Game 5 of the National League Championship Series. His club was facing an early but hardly insurmountable two-run deficit. And with pitcher Jack Flaherty lacking both command and velocity, Roberts had three fraught options before him.
1. Stick with Flaherty and hope he could settle down.
2. Summon a lower-leverage arm like Brent Honeywell or Landon Knack and hope they could hold the deficit.
3. Turn to a high-leverage reliever and risk wasting a valuable arm with a likely bullpen game looming in Game 6.
Freddie Freeman not in Dodgers’ starting lineup for Game 6
As Freddie Freeman walked off the field following a round of batting practice during a Saturday off-day before Game 6 of the National League Championship Series, he and Dave Roberts had yet to discuss his status for Sunday’s potentially pennant-clinching game.
The dejected look on Freeman’s face, however, said enough.
As Roberts had hinted this week, Freeman was not in the starting lineup for Sunday’s Game 6, held out after recording just one hit in his previous 15 at-bats while battling a limiting sprained ankle.
“I’m not gonna compromise his health, or certainly winning a game tomorrow, if he’s not mentally and/or physically ready to go,” Roberts said during his off-day press conference.
Evidently, Freeman wasn’t.
“Just doesn’t feel like himself,” Roberts said before Sunday’s game. “So we just felt that potentially another day would help.”
The lineup news didn’t come as much of a surprise. Despite missing just two of the Dodgers’ first 10 games in these playoffs, while battling an ankle injury he said would typically require a four-to-six-week injured list stint in the regular season, Freeman’s play had started to slip during the New York phase of the NLCS.
The eight-time All-Star and former NL most valuable player was clearly not moving well. His ankle was not only hampering his swing, but preventing him from working through mechanical issues he’d felt at the plate as well.
And even though Freeman took several rounds of batting practice on Saturday, he didn’t look thrilled with how the ball was coming off his bat, repeatedly shaking his head as he talked with coaches between his trips inside the net.
“I do think the swing is compromised because of the ankle,” Roberts said of Freeman. “He’s grinding.”
Freeman still could be available off the bench. And, as Roberts noted, the Dodgers are hoping that, if they advance to the World Series, the career .300 hitter will benefit from the extra rest.
But on Sunday, at least, they’ll have to try to get there without him at first base.
Here is the rest of the Dodgers’ lineup for Game 6, with Max Muncy shifting to first, Kiké Hernández taking over at third and Andy Pages in center field:
Dodgers vs. Mets: How to watch and betting odds for Game 6
The Dodgers continue the postseason Sunday when they face the New York Mets in Game 6 of the National League Championship Series at Dodger Stadium. The Dodgers lead the best-of-seven series 3-2.
The game is scheduled to start at 5:08 p.m. PDT and will air on FS1 and Fox Deportes. Radio broadcasts of the game will be on 570 AM and 1020 AM (Español) in the Los Angeles area.
Here are the betting odds for Game 6:
If there is a Game 7, it will be played at Dodger Stadium on Monday at 5:08 p.m. PDT. Fox and Fox Deportes would broadcast the game.