Mets Turn to Ace Sean Manaea to Shut Down Red-Hot Dodgers in NLCS Game 6 Showdown

LOS ANGELES -- As the runs continue to flow in the National League Championship Series, the New York Mets think they might have the answer to halt the high-powered Los Angeles Dodgers offense. Enter Sean Manaea, the crafty left-hander who will take the mound for the Mets in Game 6 at Dodger Stadium.

Manaea, who has been a bright spot in the Mets' rotation this season, will face off against a Dodgers lineup that has been on fire throughout the series. The Dodgers have scored a total of 33 runs in the first five games, including a 12-3 thrashing of the Mets in Game 5 at Citi Field.

Despite the Dodgers' impressive offense, the Mets are confident that Manaea can slow them down. The 6-foot-5 lefty has been stingy against left-handed hitters this season, limiting them to a .221 batting average and just one home run in 97 at-bats.

Nobody is more aware of Manaea's capabilities than Mets manager Buck Showalter, who has been impressed by the lefty's poise and resilience under pressure. "Sean has done a great job for us all year," Showalter said. "He's pitched in some big games and has come out on top more often than not. We're confident that he'll go out there and give us a chance to win."

Manaea, who has a 3.78 ERA in 153 innings this season, will face a Dodgers lineup that features a number of left-handed hitters, including Freddie Freeman, Max Muncy, and Joc Pederson. However, the lefty has a solid track record against these hitters, having limited them to a combined .238 batting average in 63 at-bats this season.

The Mets are also hoping that their own offense will be able to provide Manaea with some support. The Mets have been inconsistent at the plate throughout the series, but they still boast a lineup that features a number of powerful hitters, including Pete Alonso, Francisco Lindor, and Jeff McNeil.

"We know we have the talent to score runs," said Mets first baseman Pete Alonso. "We just need to go out there and execute. We've been working on some things in the batting cages and we're feeling good about our chances."

Regardless of the outcome, the Mets are confident that Manaea will give them a chance to win. The lefty has been a force to be reckoned with on the mound this season, and the Mets are hoping that he'll be the ace that they need to shut down the Dodgers' high-powered offense.