The National League Championship Series (NLCS) has reached its midpoint, with the New York Mets and the Los Angeles Dodgers facing off in Game 3. After the series was split at Dodger Stadium in the first two games, the teams moved to Citi Field in Queens, New York, where the Mets are set to host the Dodgers for three games.
The series currently stands at one game apiece. In Game 1, the Dodgers secured a convincing 5-2 victory behind a dominant pitching performance from Clayton Kershaw, with Justin Turner providing crucial support in the form of a two-run home run. The Mets fought back in Game 2, riding the coattails of ace pitcher Max Scherzer, who hurled six scoreless innings to help his team secure a hard-fought 3-2 win. The Game 2 victory evened the series, creating a best-of-five scenario starting with the next three games.
As both teams face off in Game 3, all eyes will be on the starting lineups, with both teams tweaking their strategies and making adjustments in their quest for the upper hand. Mets' ace pitcher Zac Gallen will take the mound against the Dodgers' Blake Snell, who is expected to make his second start since returning from a finger injury. Both teams boast exceptional hitting talent and will need to think creatively in order to create scoring opportunities.
The Dodgers' postseason journey thus far has not been without its share of twists and turns. To reach the NLCS, they overcame the Arizona Diamondbacks in the National League Wild Card Series and the San Diego Padres in the National League Division Series, both of which were best-of-three match-ups. These victories were widely seen as indicators of the Dodgers' resilience and ability to thrive in high-pressure games.
Conversely, the Mets suffered an early loss against the future ALCS winners Boston Red Sox in their first matchup but continued to maintain momentum throughout the first two rounds of the playoffs. Their competitive edge has many believing that the team has the required potential, tenacity, and chemistry to challenge the Dodgers and emerge victorious in the series.