Mets vs Dodgers: Starting pitchers and lineups for NL Championship Series Game 1

As the Mets head out west for Game 1 of the NLCS, they face off against a familiar foe: the Los Angeles Dodgers. Both teams have battled their way to this point, but they’ve done it in very different ways. The Mets have been riding a late-season wave of momentum, while the Dodgers have held steady with the resilience of a team that expects to be here.

The Mets are hungry to continue their dream postseason run. It’s hard to ignore the sense that something magical is happening with them. They’ve been pulling off improbable late-inning comebacks and look like a team that believes they can keep this thing rolling. Even when they don’t match up on paper, they’ve found ways to win. And while Los Angeles may be the top seed, New York is hoping their recent history of defying the odds holds up just a little longer.

On the other side, the Dodgers are looking to remind everyone that they are still the team to beat. Yes, injuries have plagued them, particularly in the starting rotation, but that hasn’t slowed their march through October. They’ve done it with timely hitting, a lights-out bullpen, and, of course, Shohei Ohtani. The two-way sensation hasn’t been as dominant lately, but we all know it’s just a matter of time before he does something game-changing.

Starting Pitchers

For the Mets, Kodai Senga gets the ball. He hasn’t pitched much since the summer, but the Mets are counting on him to provide enough innings to keep the game competitive. He had some early jitters against the Phillies, giving up a homer to the first batter he faced, but settled down quickly after that. The Dodgers lineup is a different beast, though, and he’ll have his work cut out for him starting with the first batter: Shohei Ohtani.

Meanwhile, the Dodgers will send Jack Flaherty to the mound. Flaherty has been solid, though not spectacular, since coming over at the trade deadline. He was shaky in his NLDS start against the Padres, but now is his chance to prove he’s a reliable option in the Dodgers' thin rotation. The Dodgers need a strong outing from him to ease the load on a bullpen that’s been leaned on heavily.

Starting Lineups

For the Mets, manager Carlos Mendoza has kept things consistent through the postseason, but Jeff McNeil’s return from injury may shuffle the lineup a bit. He’s been out with a wrist issue, and it’s unclear exactly how he’ll be worked back in.

Mets Lineup:

For the Dodgers, it’s business as usual, though Freddie Freeman is playing through an ankle injury and Miguel Rojas might be limited. Expect their big bats to show up early, starting with Ohtani in the leadoff spot.

Dodgers Lineup:

The Mets know they need to split these first two games in LA to set up the home-field advantage at Citi Field. But taking down the Dodgers at Dodger Stadium is no small task, especially with Ohtani and Betts at the top of the lineup.

It’s a matchup full of star power - Lindor, Alonso, and Nimmo for New York, going head-to-head with the likes of Ohtani, Betts, and Freeman. And while the Dodgers come in with more star wattage, the Mets have a little magic of their own. It’s all on the line tonight in Los Angeles as the NLCS kicks off. Buckle up.