Photo Courtesy: Keith Allison
The winner of this series will represent the National League in the World Series. The New York Mets have the best pitching staff in the league. For the Dodgers, it’s time to get over their postseason hurdle and win a series. Both teams have build their roster for this series and a long postseason run.
Keys for each team to win
The Dodgers’ Clayton Kershaw has to overcome his postseason struggles. He is 1-5 with a 5.12 earned run average in 11 games. However, his regular season numbers are nearly perfect. Every year since 2010 Kershaw’s regular season numbers contend for the Cy Young award. His performances in the postseason are completely opposite. He gets rattled early and loses control in the early stages of game. The panic button will be buzzing if Kershaw continues is unexplainable postseason dilemma.
After Kershaw and Zach Greinke, the Dodgers rotation is lacking super-star status. Players like Brett Anderson and Mike Bolsinger don’t strike fear into Met’s hitters. The Cy Young front runners, Kershaw and Greinke, will not be able to carry this team onto the next series and through the postseason by themselves. One or two other states need to step up.
The Mets have a lot working for them, starting with their pitching. Their three-headed monster of Jacob deGrom, Noah Syndergaard and Matt Harvey overmatch any team’s top rotation pitchers. Either one would serve as a game seven ace pitcher. Their only concern is their lack of postseason experience that could factor the deeper they get into the playoffs.
The trade for Yoenis Cespedes sparked the Mets to surpass the Nationals in the NL East, just as the Tulowitzki ignited the Blue Jays to past the Yankees in the AL. Cespedes’s speed, defense ability and hitting adds dimensions to a Mets team that the team was missing to get to the next step.
Prediction: Mets win in four
It’s tough to go against Kershaw and Greinke. However, both will not pitch two full nine inning and the Dodgers bullpen is shaky. One of those games the Mets will take and will be able to handle the depleted backend of the Dodgers rotation. Both these teams have the offense and defense to win a World Series. If Kershaw puts together a regular season start in the postseason, the Dodgers will be motivated the rest of the series.
Upcoming Schedule – All Times CT
* If necessary
| FRI., OCT. 9 | Mets at Dodgers, 8:45 p.m. | TBS |
| SAT., OCT. 10 | Mets at Dodgers, 8:07 p.m. | TBS |
| MON., OCT. 12 | Dodgers at Mets, 7:07 p.m. | TBS |
| TUE., OCT. 13 | *Dodgers at Mets, 7:07 p.m. | TBS |
| THU., OCT. 15 | *Mets at Dodgers, 7:07 p.m. | TBS |
