Ny Mets Mets vs La Dodgers Dodgers Picks and Predictions October 18th 2024

Mets vs Dodgers October 18th 2024

Friday’s Dodgers vs. Mets game has a start time of 5:08 PM ET from Citi Field in New York, NY. The Dodgers are favored on the money line, with their odds sitting at -139 compared to the Mets at +119. The over/under line is at 7.5 runs.

Jack Flaherty will start for the Dodgers, who are 98-64 and have won five straight. The Mets (89-73) will send David Peterson to the mound. This NL matchup can be seen on FS1.

Los Angeles vs. New York Key Information

As the Dodgers head into game five of their series against the Mets, they hold a 3-1 lead and are looking to close out the series on the road. Los Angeles finished the regular season with a 98-64 record, going 52-29 at home and 46-35 on the road. They’ve won five straight games overall and three in a row on the road.

During the regular season, the Dodgers posted an 88-83 run line record, including 45-40 on the road. They’ve covered the run line in four consecutive road games. The over has hit in four straight Dodgers games, and their overall over/under record is 97-69. Today’s 7.5-run line is lower than 87% of their games this season.

Jack Flaherty is coming off a strong outing vs. the Mets, as he didn’t allow a run in seven innings of work. He ended up with the win in that outing. Looking back further, he has made 15 quality starts this year and has a record of 13-7. Flaherty’s ERA for the season is 3.17, along with a WHIP of 1.07. For the year, he has allowed 24 home runs and is averaging 10.78 strikeouts per nine innings. Overall, Flaherty has been better on the road, coming in with a record of 8-3 and an ERA of 3.27 compared to 6-5 with a 3.52 ERA at home.

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Shohei Ohtani has been a huge run producer for the Dodgers this season, as his 130 RBIs are 2nd in the league and tops on the team. He also has a team-high 54 home runs, which is 2nd in the league. Ohtani comes into the game with a batting average of .310. Teoscar Hernandez is also a big power threat in the lineup, as his 33 homers are 2nd on the team and 11th in the MLB.

Los Angeles comes into the game with the league’s top OPS and slugging percentage. They are also 2nd in team batting average and are the top home run hitting lineup in the league. So far, they are averaging 5.2 runs per game, which is 2nd in the league.

Facing a must-win game five, the Mets are looking to avoid elimination as they trail the Dodgers 3-1 in the series. New York finished the regular season with an 89-73 record, including a 46-35 mark at home and 43-38 on the road. They’ve dropped their last two games at home and as the underdog.

New York went 89-84 against the run line this season, with a +0.5 run-scoring margin at home. They’ve lost their last two home games against the run line. The Mets’ over/under record is 90-78, and the over has hit in their last four games. Today’s 7.5-run line is below their season average of 8 runs.

The Mets are starting left-hander David Peterson today vs. the Dodgers. He has made 21 starts this season and has a record of 10-3 with a 2.90 ERA. Peterson’s WHIP for the season is 1.29, and opponents are batting .235 off him this year. In his 25 appearances, Peterson has turned in 12 quality starts, and his ERA at home is 3.40 compared to 2.81 on the road. Most recently, he pitched out of the bullpen, going 2 1/3 innings and giving up two earned runs vs. the Dodgers. He didn’t give up a run in the outing before that.

Heading into today’s game, the Mets are averaging 4.7 runs per game, which is 7th in the league. They have been even better on the road, averaging 4.8 runs per contest. Overall, they are 6th in the league in home runs and have the 8th best team batting average in the league. Over the past nine games, Mark Vientos has been on fire, going 14/38 with four homers and 10 RBIs.

Francisco Lindor and Pete Alonso have been the team’s top power threats this season, with Lindor having 33 homers and Alonso at 34. Lindor is also leading the team with 91 RBIs, while Alonso is 3rd at 88. Lindor is batting .273 for the season, and Alonso comes in at .240.

For an over/under pick, our lean would be to take the under. As for how we would play the money line in this Dodgers vs. Mets matchup, we would be leaning toward the Dodgers to come out on top. Los Angeles has the highest projected hits total in the league today, and we have this as the highest-scoring game of the day. However, our lean would be to take the under, as the line is set at 7.5 runs, and we have this as the highest total in the league today. Looking at today’s starters, we have Jack Flaherty as the better strikeout option over David Peterson for the Mets.

Mets Aim to Stay Alive in Game 5 vs. Surging Dodgers

The New York Mets, once 11 games under .500 in late May, have embraced an “us-against-the-world” mentality that turned their season around. But now, their unlikely playoff journey is on the brink of ending as they face elimination in Game 5 of the National League Championship Series against the surging Los Angeles Dodgers.

The Mets, fueled by a camaraderie and fighting spirit best summarized by designated hitter J.D. Martinez’s comment to “let’s go (stink) together. Let’s go have fun (stinking),” have defied expectations all season. However, they are now down 3-1 in the series to a Dodgers team that is also playing with a chip on its shoulder.

The Dodgers are one win away from claiming the National League pennant, and they’ll look to close it out Friday afternoon in Game 5 at Citi Field. Los Angeles will send right-hander Jack Flaherty (1-1, 2.92 ERA in the postseason) to the mound against New York’s left-hander David Peterson (1-0, 2.08).

Dodgers Surge Ahead with Offensive Power

Los Angeles flexed its offensive muscles in Thursday’s Game 4, cruising to a 10-2 victory. Shohei Ohtani set the tone with a leadoff homer, and Mookie Betts stole the show by going 4-for-5 with a home run and four RBIs. The Dodgers have now outscored the Mets 30-9 in the NLCS, winning three of the four games in convincing fashion.

Los Angeles’ success in the postseason, including overcoming a 2-1 deficit against the San Diego Padres in the NL Division Series, has displayed a sense of determination. The Dodgers have won 11 straight games dating back to last Christmas and have been a model of consistency in the playoffs, reaching the postseason 12 consecutive years, though they’ve only captured one World Series title during that span (in the shortened 2020 season).

Despite their dominant position, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts is pleased with how his team has embraced an underdog mentality. “I sort of like the us-against-the-world that our guys have sort of taken on,” Roberts said. “I think that’s kind of ironic with the Dodgers, but I like it.”

Mets’ Resiliency Tested Once Again

The Mets, who have been resilient all season, will need another spark to keep their playoff hopes alive. Their journey to the NLCS has been nothing short of miraculous. After struggling in the early months, New York posted the best record in the majors after May 29 (67-40), clinched a playoff spot in the second-to-last game of the regular season, and narrowly avoided elimination with a dramatic three-run homer by Pete Alonso in the NL wild-card series against the Milwaukee Brewers.

But with a 3-1 deficit in the NLCS, the Mets face long odds to turn the series around. Only eight teams have ever rallied from a 3-1 hole in an LCS since the best-of-seven format began in 1985. The last team to pull off the feat? The 2020 Dodgers, who came back to defeat the Atlanta Braves en route to their World Series win.

Despite the tough position, Alonso remains confident in his team’s ability to respond. “The one word I can think of (for) the 2024 Mets — other than Grimace — is resiliency,” Alonso said, referencing the fast food mascot whose ceremonial first pitch at Citi Field coincided with the Mets’ summer surge. “That’s just who we are. We have fun, we enjoy the moment. But at the end of the day, we’re a resilient bunch and we respond in a very positive way.”

Pitching Matchup: Flaherty vs. Peterson

The Mets will turn to David Peterson in Game 5, a left-hander making his first playoff start. Peterson was last seen in Game 1, allowing three runs (two earned) over 2 1/3 innings in the Mets’ 9-0 loss. Peterson has been reliable in past postseasons, posting a 2.53 ERA in six playoff appearances dating back to 2022.

Meanwhile, Jack Flaherty has been a key figure for the Dodgers in this postseason. He earned the win in Game 1 of the series, throwing seven scoreless innings and allowing just two hits in the Dodgers’ 9-0 blowout. Flaherty is 2-4 with a 3.38 ERA in seven career postseason appearances, dating back to 2019.

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The Mets hope Peterson can keep them in the game long enough for their offense to break through against Flaherty and the Dodgers’ bullpen. New York’s lineup has struggled in the series, hitting just .212 compared to Los Angeles’ .259, and they’ve been outwalked 31 to 17 over the four games.

What’s Next?

The Dodgers are aiming to wrap up the series and punch their ticket to the World Series. If they win Game 5, it would mark their third pennant in five seasons. However, if the Mets can extend the series, they’ll head back to Los Angeles with renewed hope, knowing that improbable comebacks have been part of their DNA this season.

New York’s season is on the line, and they’ll need their bats, along with Peterson’s arm, to come alive to force a Game 6. Should they stay alive, the Mets would have a chance to chip away at the series deficit in Dodger Stadium. But for now, their focus is on Friday and keeping their season from ending at Citi Field.