When is Mets vs. Dodgers NLCS Game 2? Date, Time and Lineups

LOS ANGELES — Whereas the Mets will enter Nationwide League Championship Sequence Recreation 2 on Monday afternoon hoping to move again residence with a collection break up and momentum on their facet, the Dodgers know they will smother these plans in the event that they merely by no means enable a run.

Simple, proper? Los Angeles will convey a Main League-record-tying 33-inning scoreless streak into Recreation 2 at Dodger Stadium. If the Mets don’t discover a strategy to snap it, they’ll find yourself in a a lot deeper gap.

“That is going to be a protracted collection, so we’re simply going to need to proceed to go on the market and proceed to battle and include that very same confidence,” Mets outfielder Starling Marte stated by means of an interpreter. “The motivation of this workforce and the vitality remains to be right here.”

The Dodgers’ Recreation 1 win gave them a agency benefit over the Mets on this best-of-seven collection, however not an insurmountable one. Underneath the present 2-3-2 format, groups successful Recreation 1 at residence, because the Dodgers did, have gone on to take the collection 67% of the time.

This Mets workforce has definitely come again from worse, beating the favored Braves to clinch a playoff spot of their 161st sport, then upsetting a pair of division champions within the Brewers and Phillies over the primary two rounds of the playoffs.

“It is a actually good workforce over there nonetheless,” Dodgers Recreation 1 starter Jack Flaherty stated. “We’ll take pleasure in tonight, however we have a fast turnaround.”

If the Mets need to even the collection, they’ll want to take action in opposition to Los Angeles’ vaunted reduction pitchers. The Dodgers are planning to counteract Mets starter Sean Manaea with a bullpen sport, which has change into their specialty this postseason.

“Simply because it’s not a [traditional] starter doesn’t imply we’re not going to have a giant league sport,” Mets shortstop Francisco Lindor stated. “They’ve a very good workforce on the opposite facet, and so they’re snug sufficient to go on the market and convey their bullpen, as a result of they’ve an excellent bullpen. So we’ve simply acquired to study from right now, come again tomorrow and put all of it collectively.”

Right here’s all the things it is advisable find out about Recreation 2:

When is the sport and the way can I watch it?
Recreation 2 of the NLCS at Dodger Stadium is airing proper now on FOX and FS1.

All video games can be found within the U.S. on MLB.TV (authentication to a collaborating Pay TV supplier is required). Reside video games are additionally out there in choose international locations exterior the U.S. For full particulars, click on right here.

Who’re the beginning pitchers?
Mets: LHP Sean Manaea (12-6, 3.47 ERA within the common season)
The Mets’ greatest starter since he dropped his arm slot in late July, Manaea completed the common season with a 3.09 ERA over his last 12 outings and has maintained that success with a 2.25 mark in two postseason begins. His final effort, a seven-inning, one-run efficiency in NLDS Recreation 3, was maybe probably the most impactful of his profession.

Manaea held the Dodgers to 2 runs over 5 innings of their solely assembly this season, rebounding from a prolonged historical past of struggles in opposition to them. He referred to as his Recreation 2 begin one other alternative “to go on the market and show once more” that he’s a distinct, higher pitcher at this level in his profession.

Dodgers: RHP Ryan Brasier
Brasier will as soon as once more open for the Dodgers, who final deployed a bullpen sport in Recreation 4 of the NLDS in opposition to the Padres, and it labored to perfection with 9 shutout innings. Brasier hurled 1 1/3 innings in that contest, putting out one.

What are the beginning lineups?
Mets: Supervisor Carlos Mendoza’s each day lineup choices have gotten extra attention-grabbing now that Jeff McNeil is wholesome, however McNeil, who served as a pinch-hitter in Recreation 1, was not within the lineup. Mendoza went with Jesse Winker over J.D. Martinez at DH for the second straight sport, because the Mets are going through a workforce with out as many left-handed pitchers because the Brewers and Phillies.

Dodgers: Issues are just a little totally different for the Dodgers as they face their first lefty starter this postseason. Freddie Freeman was moved right down to cleanup, with Teoscar Hernández sliding as much as the three-hole. Andy Pages acquired the beginning in middle subject, and Kiké Hernández earned the nod over lefty swinger Gavin Lux at second base. Supervisor Dave Roberts stated Lux, who had a hip flexor tighten up in Recreation 1, is on the market to pinch-hit.

How will the bullpens line up after every workforce’s starter?
Mets: David Peterson’s heavy utilization in Recreation 1 will take him out of play at the least for Recreation 2, and probably even past that if the Mets plan to depend on him for vital innings in a possible Recreation 5. Exterior of Peterson, the Mets at the least averted utilizing their different high-leverage choices in Recreation 1. Nearer Edwin Díaz needs to be out there for greater than an inning in Recreation 2, and the Mets can lean on setup relievers Ryne Stanek and Phil Maton for giant workloads, as effectively.

Dodgers: The Dodgers ought to have all their arms out there out of the bullpen after Jack Flaherty was in a position to give L.A. seven dominant innings in Recreation 1. Evan Phillips, Michael Kopech and Blake Treinen will probably be tasked with going through the center of the Mets’ lineup. Anthony Banda, Ryan Brasier and Daniel Hudson give L.A. another high quality choices in reduction. If the Dodgers want a number of innings from a reliever, they’ve Landon Knack, Ben Casparius and Brent Honeywell Jr. out there.

Any accidents of word?
Mets: Though McNeil hasn’t seen a lot reside pitching since he fractured his proper wrist on Sept. 6, he did choose up 10 plate appearances within the Arizona Fall League. Mendoza stated McNeil’s contact method lends itself effectively to a profitable return regardless of his lack of latest reps. In any case, McNeil is absolutely wholesome and able to contributing when the Mets name on him.

Nimmo revealed after Recreation 1 that he’s coping with plantar fasciitis in his left foot, however indicated it will not preserve him out of the lineup.

Not one of the seven gamers on the Mets’ injured record — Paul Blackburn, Christian Scott, Dedniel Núñez, Sean Reid-Foley, Drew Smith, Brooks Raley and Ronny Mauricio — will return this 12 months.

Dodgers: Freeman continues to take care of a badly sprained proper ankle and can proceed to be a game-time choice earlier than each sport. Lux left Recreation 1 with a hip tightness and might be unavailable in Recreation 2.

Who’s scorching and who shouldn’t be?
Mets: The one hits in Recreation 1 got here from the underside half of the lineup. Notably, the Dodgers managed to chill off Lindor, Vientos and Alonso, who had carried them in the course of the NL Division Sequence. Vientos had his string of 4 consecutive multihit video games snapped, and Nimmo failed to achieve base for the primary time since Sept. 28.

Dodgers: Kiké Hernández added to his postseason legend, coming by means of with two extra hits in Recreation 1. Betts has additionally had a robust postseason and delivered the ultimate blow in Recreation 1, a bases-clearing double within the eighth inning. Then again, the Dodgers may use some extra manufacturing from Smith, who has struggled on the plate over the previous couple months.

Anything followers may need to know?
• That is the fourth postseason assembly between the Mets and Dodgers, courting to a 1988 NLCS win for Los Angeles in what’s nonetheless thought-about one of many best postseason collection. The Mets earned some revenge within the 2006 NLDS, sweeping the Dodgers, and once more in a extremely entertaining 2015 NLDS win.

• Whereas the Mets led Main League Baseball with a 67-40 report from Might 30 by means of the top of the season, the Dodgers weren’t far behind, at 62-42. Each ranked in MLB’s prime 5 over that stretch.

• Control Betts, who doubled residence three runs within the eighth inning of Recreation 1 and has owned Manaea through the years. In 32 profession at-bats in opposition to the left-hander, Betts has produced a slash line of .313/.371/.781 with two doubles, two triples and three residence runs.