Game 1 of the National League Championship Series kicks off with a battle between the New York Mets and Los Angeles Dodgers on Sunday night. 

The Dodgers won a thrilling Game 5 against the Padres on Friday on the heels of a dominant performance by Yoshinobu Yamamoto and a home run from Kike Hernandez.

The Mets took down the Phillies in four games as their hot run at the end of the season and into the playoffs continue.

Game 1 sees the home team Dodgers send out Jack Flaherty while the Mets counter with Kodai Senga. Before giving our Mets vs Dodgers predictions, let's take a look at the top storylines and pitching matchups.

 

 

New York Mets: Miracle Mets

The Mets run this postseason has been impressive. They clinched their playoff berth winning a game during their double-header against the Braves. They then take on the Brewers and win Game 3 in dramatic fashion with Pete Alonso homering off of Devin Williams.

The Mets then go take on the Phillies and get dominated for seven innings by Zack Wheeler but the moment Wheeler lifted they jumped all over the Phillies bullpen. They lose a close game in Game 2 then handle Game 3 and Game 4 without issue.

Now the next test as they take on a Dodgers team that has been the favorite to win the whole thing since the offseason when they landed Shohei Ohtani and Yoshinobu Yamamoto.

Can the Mets offense keep coming through and can their pitching continue to keep coming up big as the test gets harder.

 

 

Los Angeles Dodgers: Will the Pitching Hold Up?

The biggest question for the Dodgers has been their pitching. Their staff has dealt with injuries and inconsistent performances throughout the season and yet, here they are in the NLCS.

In Game 1 they are sending out Jack Flaherty whom they acquired at the trade deadline from the Tigers.

Flaherty labored through 5.1 innings in his lone playoff appearances, allowing four runs on five hits over 5.1 innings against the Padres in a game the Dodgers ended up losing 10-2.

We know the Dodgers offense can complete with anyone but can their pitching keep the games close enough to give their offense a chance to give them a big enough lead.

 

 

Mets vs. Dodgers Odds, Spreads, Total & Betting Lines

We’re about to break down our Mets vs. Dodgers predictions, but first, here are the current Mets vs. Dodgers odds, spreads, totals and betting lines from DraftKings Sportsbook:

Run Line

  • Mets +1.5 (-162)
  • Dodgers -1.5 (+136)

Money Line

  • Mets: +130
  • Dodgers: -155

Total

  • 8.0 (Over -112/Under -108)

 

 

 

Mets vs. Dodgers Starting Pitcher & Lineup

Kodai Senga, New York Mets

It was a complete shock to everyone when the Mets named Senga their Game 1 starter against the Phillies in the NLDS considering the fact that Senga had only thrown 5.1 innings all season due to injuries. Yet, after a leadoff homer to Kyle Schwarber, Senga fine. He tossed two innings allowing that lone hit while striking out three. He tossed 31 pitches in that game so we still expect him to be limited here but we could see a quick ramp up depending on his effectiveness in this game.

Jack Flaherty, Los Angeles Dodgers

The overall numbers for Flaherty this year were better with the Tigers than they were with the Dodgers as he owned a 2.95 ERA and a 0.96 WHIP for the Tigers while owning a 3.58 ERA with a 1.28 WHIP for the Dodgers.

Flaherty is a high strikeout pitcher than uses his strikeout ability to get out of damage. His problem today will be that the Mets are not a team that strikes out.

We saw Flaherty struggle against the Padres during the NLDS and this lineup, with how well they are playing, will not be any easier.

 

 

Mets vs. Dodgers Predictions For NL Championship Series Game 1

We've considered the Dodgers the team to beat all season long but now they run into the hottest team in baseball. It's not only that the Mets offense is coming through time and time again but they are also coming up in clutch spots.

The Mets pitching has also been impressive. This will be their toughest test yet having to deal with the likes of Mookie Betts, Shohei Ohtani, Freddie Freeman and Teosacar Hernandez at the top of the Dodgers lineup.

The Dodgers offense will not be the issue in this series but can we trust their pitching which has been rather suspect this season and was average at best during the NLDS against the Padres.

 

 

Mets vs. Dodgers: Mets ML (+130 at DraftKings Sportsbook)

 

I'm rolling the Mets here on the Moneyline at +130 here in Game 1. I just do not trust the Dodgers pitching and the Mets offense is rolling. If this game is close at all I expect to see the Mets hitters come through late and get New York a Game 1 victory.

 

 

 

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