2024 NLCS Game 1 Pregame Notes: New York Mets (0-0) vs Los Angeles Dodgers (0-0)

So We Meet Again
Today will mark the seventh meeting of the year between the Dodgers and Mets after the two clubs squared off six times in the regular season with the Dodgers winning each of the last four meetings (see chart on page 2). It is the fourth time that they are meeting in the Postseason after previously facing off in the 2015 NLDS (NYM, 3-2); the 2006 NLDS (NYM, 3-0); and the 1988 NLCS (LAD, 4-3).

We’re Back!
The Dodgers are into the NLCS for the 16th time in franchise history, marking their first appearance since losing to the eventual World Champion Atlanta Braves in 2021. Of the Dodgers’ previous 10 appearances since the LCS became a seven-game series (1985), all 10 series have gone at least five games, seven have gone at least six games and three have gone the full seven games (1988, 2018 and 2020).

• Previous NLCS appearances by the Dodgers include: 1974 (W, 3-1 vs. PIT); 1977 (W, 3-1 vs. PHI); 1978 (W, 3-1 vs. PHI); 1981 (W, 3-2 vs. MON); 1983 (L, 3-1 vs. PHI); 1985 (L, 3-2 vs. STL); 1988 (W, 4-3 vs. NYM); 2008 (L, 4-1 vs. PHI); 2009 (L, 4-1 vs. PHI); 2013 (L, 4-2 vs. STL); 2016 (L, 4-2 vs. CHI); 2017 (W, 4-1 vs. CHI); 2018 (W, 4-3 vs. MIL); 2020 (W, 4-3 vs. ATL); and 2021 (L, 4-2 vs. ATL)
• Los Angeles made the 2024 Postseason after winning in the NL West with a 98-64 record, marking the most wins in Baseball this season. The Dodgers have made 12 consecutive Postseasons since 2013.
• After a first-round bye, the Dodgers beat the San Diego Padres three games to two (3-2) in an epic NLDS showdown, sealing the series win on Friday night here in Los Angeles.
  
• O-M-G!
  The Mets are into the NLCS for the ninth time in franchise history and are returning for the first time since advancing to the 2015 World Series, after sweeping the Chicago Cubs before falling to the Royals in the 2015 Fall Classic.
• Previous NLCS appearances by the Mets include: 1969 (W, 3-0 vs. ATL); 1973 (W, 3-2 vs. CIN); 1986 (W, 4-2 vs. HOU); 1988 (L, 4-3); 1999 (L, 4-2 vs. ATL); 2000 (W, 4-1 vs. STL); 2006 (L, 4-3 vs. STL); and 2015 (W, 4-0 vs. CHI).
• To make the NLCS this season, New York finished 89-73 entering the Postseason as a Wild Card. On the final day of the season, the Mets split a doubleheader in Atlanta with the Braves as both teams made the Postseason, leaving the Diamondbacks out of the picture.
• After earning their spot in the Postseason, New York traveled to Milwaukee and beat the Brewers two games to one (2-1) to advance to the NLDS. In their first ever Postseason matchup against the Phillies, the Mets punched their ticket to the NLCS with a three games to one (3-1) series win in front of the home crowd at Citi Field on Wednesday night.

Roster Changes
Both teams announced their rosters earlier this morning, prior to Game 1. Pitcher Brent Honeywell Jr. and outfielder Kevin Kiermaier were added to the NLCS roster, while pitcher Alex Vesia and infielder Miguel Rojas were deactivated from the NLDS roster. Infielder Jeff McNeil was added to the Mets roster, while reliever Adam Ottavino was deactivated.

Dodgers NLDS Recap
The Dodgers beat the Padres in the NLDS, three games to two, as the NL West rivals went toe-to-toe in an emotional showdown. In Game 1, Shohei Ohtani clubbed a big three-run homer in the second inning as both clubs combined for 11 runs by the end of the fourth inning. In Game 2, San Diego bounced back with a statement 10-2 win, hammering six homers to send the series to Petco Park tied at 1-1. In Game 3, Los Angeles struck first but the Padres came back with six runs in the second inning to take a commanding lead.

The Dodgers rallied for four runs in the third inning but weren’t able to get a run across after that. Facing elimination in Game 4, the Dodgers bullpen stood tall and shut out the Padres as Mookie Betts went deep for the second straight night and sent the series back to Dodger Stadium. In Game 5, Kiké Hernández and Teoscar Hernández each slugged a solo home run to provide all of the offense. Yoshinobu Yamamoto provided 5.0 scoreless innings of two-hit ball to clinch the series.

Mets NLDS Recap
After an incredible ninth-inning rally and late homer from Pete Alonso helped the Mets top the Brewers in the Wild Card round, New York defeated the Phillies, three games to one in the first ever Postseason showdown between the storied franchises. New York held its momentum in Game 1, rallying late once again, this time for five runs in the eighth inning to take the win. In Game 2, the Mets lost a late shootout as Nick Castellanos hit a game-tying homer homer and walk-off RBI double to send the series to Citi Field tied at 1-1. Playing in front of their home fans for the first time since September 22nd, the Mets secured Game 3 after a dominant outing from Sean Manaea, who allowed one run on three hits across 7.0 innings. In Game 4, Francisco Lindor played hero with a go-ahead grand slam in the sixth inning as New York clinched a Postseason series at Citi Field for the first time.

Dave Roberts
Dave Roberts is in his ninth year as the Dodgers skipper and was named the 28th manager in Dodgers’ franchise history on November 23, 2015. He is the 10th skipper in Los Angeles Dodgers’ history and the fourth to both play and manage for the team, joining Tommy Lasorda, Bill Russell and Glenn Hoffman

• The 52-year-old has guided Los Angeles to a 3-2 record this Postseason… His 48 career Postseason victories are sixth-most all-time, trailing Joe Torre (84); Tony La Russa (71); Bobby Cox (67); Dusty Baker (57); and Bruce Bochy (57).
• Roberts is the only National League manager in history to lead his team to the playoffs in his first nine seasons and first to accomplish that feat since Torre led the Yankees to the Postseason in his first 12 seasons at the helm.
• Was one of eight diverse managers at the start of the 2024 season, which represented the game’s most since 2010, including a record-high six Latino managers.
  
• Carlos Mendoza
  Carlos Mendoza is in his first year as a Major League manager and was named the 25th manager in Mets’ history on November 13, 2023. Mendoza is one of 16 managers to reach the LCS in his first year at the helm.
• Along with Guardians manager Stephen Vogt, 2024 marks the first time that multiple rookie managers have led their squads to the LCS. Other managers to accomplish the feat in the NL include: Rob Thomson (2022, PHI); Mike Matheny (2012, STL); Ron Roenicke (2011, MIL); Bob Brenly (2001, AZ); Hal Lanier (1986, HOU); Jim Fanning (1981, MTL); Bill Virdon (1972, PIT); and Sparky Anderson (1970, CIN).
• The 44-year-old Is the fourth Venezuelan-born manager in major league history joining Ozzie Guillen, Al Pedrique and Miguel Cairo…He joins Guillen as the only other full-time Venezuelan manger in league history.
• Was one of eight diverse managers at the start of the 2024 season, which represented the game’s most since 2010, including a record-high six Latino managers.
  
• Let’s Get Wild
  With their victory over the Philadelphia Phillies in the NLDS, the New York Mets are now the 16th NL Wild Card Team to reach the NLCS. Each of the past two NLCS have featured all-Wild Card matchups including Arizona against Philadelphia in 2023 and Philadelphia against San Diego in 2022. Previously, the Mets reached the NLCS as a Wild Card in 1999 and 2000.
• Since the Wild Card format began in 1995, 16 Wild Card teams have reached the World Series including both of last year’s Pennant winners (AZ and TEX). Of the 16 Wild Card teams to make the World Series, eight teams have emerged as the World Series Champion.
• The eight teams to win the World Series as a Wild Card are the 2024 Texas Rangers; the 2019 Washington Nationals; the 2014 Giants; the 2011 St. Louis Cardinals, the 2004 Red Sox, the 2003 and 1997 Florida Marlins; and the 2002 Angels.
  
• Game On(e)
  Since the LCS moved to its current seven-game format in 1985,the winner of the first game of the NLCS has advanced to the Fall Classic 26 times (68.4%). That has been the case in two of the last three years (PHI in 2022 and ATL in 2021), eight of the last 11 and in 22 of the last 29 years dating back to 1995.
• Notably, the winner of Game 1 in the NLCS went on to win the series in every season from 1995-2004 and again from 2013-2017.
• In 54 previous NLCS matchups, the team winning Game 1 has gone on to win the series 37 times (68.5%). The Dodgers are 23-33 all-time in Game 1 of a Postseason Series, including 9-21 in Game 1 of a best-of-seven series overall, and 2-8 in Game 1 of the NLCS.
• Los Angeles has not won the first game of a NLCS since beating the Cubs, 5-2, in the opening game of the 2017 edition. The Mets are 10-10 all-time in Game 1 of a Postseason Series, including 4-7 in Game 1 of a best-of-seven series overall, and 5-3 in Game 1 of the NLCS.
• New York is 2-0 in Game 1 of a series this Postseason, defeating the Milwaukee Brewers (8-4) in the NL Wild Card Series; and topping the Philadelphia Phillies (6-2) in the NL Division Series. During the regular season they were 34-22 in the opening game of a series.
  
• NLCS Umpires
  Twenty-five-year Major League Umpire Bill Miller will serve as the crew chief for the NLCS. This is Miller’s eighth League Championship Series assignment. Miller’s crew for the NLCS features Jordan Baker, regular season crew chief Marvin Hudson, Nic Lentz, Mike Muchlinski, David Rackley and Jeremie Rehak. Six Major League Umpires are scheduled to make their LCS on-field debut in 2024, including Rehak and Lentz in the NLCS. Hudson will serve as crew chief in Game Four of the NLCS while Miller is off the field.
• Homer Happy
  The Dodgers (9) and Mets (8) have the second and third-most home runs this Postseason, trailing only the Padres (11). Seven different Dodgers players have hit a home run including Mookie Betts (2 HR); Teoscar Hernández (2); Kiké Hernández; Gavin Lux; Max Muncy; Shohei Ohtani; and Will Smith. Five different Mets players have homered in the Postseason including Pete Alonso (3); Mark Vientos (2); Francisco Lindor; Brandon Nimmo; and Jesse Winker. There have been 11 go-ahead homers hit in the fifth inning-or-later of this Postseason, most recently Lane Thomas’ go-ahead grand slam in yesterday’s ALDS finale. There were only five such homers during the entire 2023 Postseason