NEW YORK—To set up a Subway Series, the New York Mets need to overcome a significant deficit against the Los Angeles Dodgers.
“It would be great for New York,” said former Mets star Dwight Gooden prior to Game 3 of the National League Championship Series held at Citi Field on Wednesday night.
Gooden’s sentiment was echoed by Darryl Strawberry, his teammate from the 1986 World Series-winning team. With the New York Yankees leading the Cleveland Guardians 2-0 in the American League Championship Series, Strawberry pointed out the challenge ahead for the Mets. “The Mets have to get through a good Dodgers ballclub,” he noted, emphasizing the difficulty of the task.
Strawberry’s caution proved to be accurate as the Dodgers secured an 8-0 victory, highlighted by a second three-run homer in the playoffs from Shohei Ohtani. The Dodgers now lead the best-of-seven series 2-1 and could secure the NL pennant with wins in Games 4 and 5 scheduled for Thursday and Friday nights.
Should the series extend, the action would return to Dodger Stadium for Games 6 and 7. The Dodgers are positioned favorably, with quality starters Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Game 1 winner Jack Flaherty set to pitch in the next two games. The Mets will counter with Jose Quintana for Game 4 and Kodai Senga, who lost in Game 1, for Game 5.
Even with the series advantage, the Dodgers feel pressure to finish it off in New York. “I would love to win this in five, yes,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts stated. The team is mindful of their limited starting options for potential Games 6 and 7 after experiencing difficulties in a bullpen game that resulted in a loss in Game 2.
Roberts remains focused on the current games rather than future scenarios. “We’ll see when we get there,” he commented. “There’s a lot that can happen from now until Game 6.”
During Game 3, the Mets struggled offensively, managing only four singles off Dodgers starter Walker Buehler and four relievers. Remarkably, despite a perceived pitching shortage, Dodger pitchers have recorded four shutouts in their last five playoff games against two of the National League’s stronger hitting teams. They previously held the Mets scoreless in Game 1, securing a 9-0 victory.
Ohtani’s impressive 400-foot homer in the eighth inning all but sealed the game. Buehler delivered a solid performance, throwing 90 pitches over four innings and escaping early challenges. The Mets now face the pressing question of how to clinch a championship for the first time since 1986.
There’s also significant interest in a potential matchup between the Dodgers and Yankees, with both teams carrying rich histories. This would mark the 12th meeting in the World Series, the first since 1981, and would set the stage for a clash between stars Ohtani and Aaron Judge.
While Ohtani has struggled this postseason with a .226 batting average, he has shown resilience, particularly with runners in scoring position, achieving a remarkable 17-for-20 record. His ability to perform under pressure signifies a different aspect of playoff competition.
The Mets have faced a challenging season, recovering from a rough start that saw them fall below .500. Their perseverance has brought them to this pivotal point.
“Look, what we are experiencing right now, we’re making history. That’s what we want,” said first-year Mets manager Carlos Mendoza. “We want to create something special. I know it’s been a while, and that’s why there’s so much excitement around the city and baseball. Nobody expected us to be here, and here we are.”