Dodgers vs. Mets result: LA pitchers tie MLB playoff record with another shutout in NLCS Game 1

Fueled by early runs and Jack Flaherty’s seven shutout innings, the Los Angeles Dodgers defeated the New York Mets 9-0 in Game 1 of the National League Championship Series on Sunday night. The win gives the Dodgers a 1-0 lead in the best-of-seven series that will determine which team advances to the World Series to face the New York Yankees or the Cleveland Guardians.

The Dodgers took the lead in the first inning thanks to a two-out, two-RBI single by Max Muncy. LA extended that lead with a run in the second inning and then opened it with a three-run fourth. In the bottom of the fourth, Shohei Ohtani drove in a run on a double that left the bat at 116.5 mph:

Moments later, Ohtani, who reached base three times in Game 1, scored on Freddie Freeman’s two-out single. At that point, the Dodgers led 6-0. The score remained until the eighth, when Mookie Betts hit a bases-loaded double to make it 9-0.

Now for some takeaways from NLCS Game 1.

Pitching in LA is on track for records

Flaherty, Daniel Hudson and Ben Casparius combined for the Game 1 shutout. This came after the Dodgers blanked the Padres in Games 4 and 5 of the NLDS. In fact, the Dodgers haven’t allowed a run since the second inning of Game 3 against San Diego. All that and the fact that they suffocated the Mets means the Dodgers pitchers (and fielders) made postseason history.

Longest scoreless innings streak in MLB postseason history

T1. 2024 Los Angeles Dodgers: 33 innings (and counting)
T1. 1966 Baltimore Orioles: 33 innings
3. 1974 Oakland Athletics: 30 innings

With a scoreless first inning in Game 2 on Monday, they stand alone at the top of this list. Particularly big and probably unexpected was Flaherty’s shutout work in seven innings (2 H, 6 SO, 2 BB). This was only the second time this season that Flaherty went at least seven innings. Sunday’s gem also came with a start after Flaherty tossed in four runs in 5 1/3 innings against the Padres in NLDS Game 2. For Flaherty, Game 1 against the Mets was a golden opportunity to find his level.

Kodai Senga had no control

The Mets pinned their hopes on right-hander Senga in Game 1, but those hopes proved misplaced. Senga wasn’t expected to work deep into the game – he made just one start in the regular season due to injuries and went just two innings in his only NLDS start – but the LA order might get a full time and To survive a change without serious damage, that was a reasonable expectation. That didn’t happen and the main reason for that was Senga’s lack of control. Senga lasted only 1 1/3 innings, and in that short span he walked four batters, all in the first inning, with no strikeouts. On a related note, Senga also allowed three runs in those 1 1/3 innings. Of his 30 throws, only 10 (!) resulted in strikes, and thirteen of his first 16 throws were out of the zone.

With Senga unable to find the zone, the Mets had to work hard on their bullpen in Game 1, and the best-of-seven NLCS doesn’t offer as much rest as the LDS, at least relatively speaking. Heading into this series, the Mets’ relative stability in the rotation seemed to be an advantage, at least compared to the Dodgers and their three healthy starters. That may not be a big advantage, as Senga only recorded four outs in Game 4 while his counterpart, Flaherty, went seven innings.

History favors the Dodgers

As you might expect, winning the opening game of a postseason series gives the winning team a decisive advantage. In all MLB best-of-seven postseason series, the team that wins Game 1 wins the entire series 64.4% of the time. Teams playing in exactly the same circumstances as the Dodgers – e.g. B. Winning Game 1 at home – do even better: They win the series in question 68.2% of the time. For the Mets, however, a win in Game 2 is enough and then we’re back to balance.

Next: NLCS Game 2 is scheduled for Monday at Dodger Stadium. Left-hander Sean Manea will opt for the Mets, while Dodgers manager Dave Roberts has not yet revealed his pitching plans (he could opt for a bullpen game thanks to Flaherty’s heavy work in Game 1). First pitch is scheduled for 4:08 p.m. ET. In this game, the Dodgers will attempt to become the first team ever to post four straight postseason shutouts.