Game Six
Since the LCS moved to its current seven-game format in 1985,the winner of the sixth game of the NLCS has advanced to the Fall Classic 21 times (84.0%). The Dodgers hold a 3-2 series lead and per Elias, in best-of-seven NLCS (since 1985), teams that hold a 3-2 series lead, go on to win the series 68.0% of the time (17- 8). In the LCS (AL or NL), a team up 3-2 in a seven-game series wins the series 70.2% of the time (33-14). In the 114 previous best-of-seven series that have sat at 3-2 after five games, the team leading 3-2 has won the series 79 times (69.2%). The team trailing in the series has forced a Game 7 35 times, including the Diamondbacks in last year’s NLCS and the Rangers in last year’s ALCS. The Dodgers are 7-13 all-time in Game 6 of a Postseason Series, including 7-12 in Game 6 of a best-of-seven series overall, and 1-6 in Game 6 of the NLCS.
- The Dodgers are 3-2 in Game 6 of a Postseason series since 2017. They beat the Astros, 3-1, in the 2017 World Series; lost to the Brewers, 7-2 in Game 6 of the 2018 NLCS; beat the Braves, 3-1, in the 2020 NLCS; beat the Rays, 3-1, in the 2020 World Series and los to Atlanta in the 2021 NLCS.
- Los Angeles is 27-18 in potential clinch games in the Postseason, including an 8-6 record in NLCS clinch opportunities. They are attempting to advance to their 22nd World Series and first since winning it all in 2020. The Dodgers have appeared in nine World Series during their time in Brooklyn and 12 World Series since moving to Los Angeles. The Mets are 4-2 all-time in Game 6 of a Postseason Series, including 4-2 in Game 6 of a best-of-seven series overall, and 3-1 in Game 6 of the NLCS.
- New York is playing its first Game 6 of the Postseason since beat the Cardinals, 4-2, in Game 6 of the 2006 NLCS.
- The Mets are looking to fend off elimination for a third time this Postseason after beating the Brewers, 4-2, in Game 3 of the Wild Card Series and bringing this NLCS back to Los Angeles with a 12-6 win on Friday night. New York is 11-8 all-time in potential elimination games.
Clutch Factors
Pete Alonso put the Mets in the lead, 3-0, with a three-run shot in the first inning on Friday night. Of Alonso’s five career Postseason homers, four have put the Mets into the lead including his blast to lead-off the fifth inning in Game 2 of the 2022 Wild Card Series against San Diego; his three-run go-ahead shot in the ninth inning of Game 3 at Milwaukee in the Wild Card Series; and his solo blast to lead off the second inning in Game 3 of the NLDS against Philadelphia.
Each of the first five games in this series have been decided by four-or-more runs, marking the second series in Postseason history where each of the first five games have been decided by at least four runs. The only other time it has happened was the 1965 World Series between Twins and Dodgers, when the first 6 games were decided by 4+ runs.
The Mets scored five runs in the third inning of Game 5, marking the fourth time this Postseason that they scored at least four runs in a single frame. Per Elias, the Mets are the fifth team (sixth occurrence) with at least four five-run innings in a single Postseason, joining the 2023 Rangers (4x); 2007 Red Sox (5x); 2002 Angels (4x); 1999 Red Sox (4x); and 1979 Orioles (4x).
