It might seem like ages ago, but just nine days ago, the Los Angeles Dodgers were in trouble in the NLDS, trailing the San Diego Padres 2-1 in the best-of-five series, with Fernando Tatis Jr. bashing homers left and right.
The Dodgers found their groove, though, and it actually started with L.A.’s pitching in that Game 3 loss. The Dodgers didn’t allow a run after the second inning of that game — a streak that continued for the rest of the series and into the NLCS. Over the past five games, Dodgers pitching has posted four shutouts, including in both of the team’s NLCS wins.
The Mets will need to find the offense they managed in a 7-3 Game 2 win to have a chance to tie this series because the hot Dodgers offense is averaging 5.3 runs per game in these playoffs, with 20 runs scored so far in this series.
On Thursday, the Mets turned to Jose Quintana, and the Dodgers countered with Yoshinobu Yamamoto, who threw five innings of shutout ball in his last start, L.A.’s win over San Diego in Game 5 of the NLDS.
How to watch Dodgers vs. Mets NLCS Game 4 (LAD leads 2-1)
Time: 8:08 p.m. ET
Location: Citi Field | Queens, NY
TV channel: FS1
Streaming: Fox Sports App, Fubo
Live59 updates
The Dodgers go down in order in the ninth inning. Per the FS1 broadcast, it was their first 1-2-3 inning since the fourth inning of Game 3. Their offense has been that good.
“You all f***ing suck.”
A Mets fan (we assume) makes his thoughts clear to the Fox Sports 1 microphones.
The Mets have several options for who pitches in Game 5, and none of them are ideal. There are:
Kodai Senga, who is still working his way back from an injury and got knocked around in 1 1/3 innings of work in Game 1
David Peterson, who had a strong regular season as a starter but has worked out of the bullpen all postseason
Sean Manaea, who was great in Game 2 but would be pitching on short rest (and kicks the can down the road)
A full bullpen game, which is basically what Senga’s Game 1 disaster turned into (the Dodgers ended up scoring nine runs)
With Jack Flaherty starting after seven scoreless innings in Game 1, Los Angeles figures to be heavily favored to close this thing on Friday.
Edgardo Henriquez throws a scoreless eighth inning. The end is near.
The Dodgers now have ace defender Kevin Kiermaier, who pinch ran for Teoscar Hernandez, in center field, pushing Andy Pages to Hernandez’s spot in left field.
Shohei Ohtani fouled a ball hard off his left knee and was in some pretty clear pain. He stayed in but was still noticeably limping around after a pitch. He strikes out to end the inning, and the Dodgers will now make sure he’s OK.
Citi Field vibe check 2.0:
Dodgers 10, Mets 2
Will Smith scores Edman with a single. The Dodgers have a lot of runs. Every player in their lineup has a hit. The Mets are in a bad place.
It’s not all good for the Dodgers. Max Muncy strikes out and snaps his postseason on-base streak at a record-tying 12. Tough to watch.
This is a very good point. The Padres have a good rotation and one of the few lineups that can match up with the Dodgers. San Diego had them on the ropes, then their offense disappeared in the NLDS. There might not be a team that matches up better against Los Angeles left in this postseason.
The Dodgers are just trying to break spirits now. Tommy Edman plates two runs with a double, and that’s three games this series with at least eight runs.
It’s the eighth inning, and some Mets fans are leaving.
Teoscar Hernandez draws another walk, the Dodgers’ eighth of the game and 30th of the series. Per the broadcast, that ties the record for most in the first four games of a championship series. Combined with the power at the top of the order, that’s a tough combination to beat across a series.
Marte flies out just short of the warning track. It’s been more eventful than usual for the Dodgers bullpen in this game, but they still haven’t allowed a run. Six outs left for the Mets to score five runs, or else they need an even bigger comeback to win this series.
Treinen allows a leadoff single to Francisco Lindor, then Brandon Nimmo puts runners on the corners with a two-out single. Mets have a chance for multiple runs here, and it comes down to Starling Marte.
Gasp, the Mets got Ohtani out with runners on base.
It’s still 7-2 with the top of the Mets order due up in the bottom of the seventh inning. Blake Treinen will be staying in after throwing two pitches in the sixth.
Shoutout to Scarlett Johansson for wearing a hat from The Met at this game.
Shohei Ohtani comes up with runners on first and second and two outs, and that will do it for Phil Maton. The left-handed Danny Young comes in and will try to keep this game within semi-reasonable striking distance.
Dodgers rookie Andy Pages takes an 88 mph sinker to the right wrist. He was in some clear pain but looks like he’s staying in the game.
That’s now eight free passes granted to the Dodgers lineup this game (seven walks and the HBP). That’s nearly an entire turn through the order, in a series in which preserving your bullpen is vital.
Max Muncy singles to open the seventh inning. That ties Reggie Jackson for the longest postseason on-base streak, and this is the only one that was done in a single season (a single series, no less).
