Your Sunday morning dose of New York Mets and MLB news, notes, and links.
Meet the Mets
MLB.com published its NLCS Game 1 FAQs and the New York Post and New York Daily News each published their previews of the series.
Mike Petriello also matched up the Mets and Dodgers position-by-position.
Tim Healey of Newsday looked into the major storylines heading into this NLCS matchup between the Mets and the Dodgers.
Healey also wrote more about the plan for Kodai Senga in his Game 1 start and the rest of the NLCS pitching outlook for the Mets.
The Mets had a full team workout at Citi Field on Saturday afternoon before heading to LA.
Jeff McNeil, who is rehabbing from a right wrist fracture, played nine innings at second base and received five at-bats Friday in the Arizona Fall League. “If he’s healthy there is a good chance he will be on the [NLCS] roster and we’ll go from there,” manager Carlos Mendoza said Saturday during the team workout at Citi Field.
Anthony DiComo of MLB.com wrote about the times Carlos Mendoza has trusted his gut during this postseason run and how it has mostly paid off.
Given his new collaboration with José Iglesias, don’t be surprised if you see Pitbull throwing out a first pitch at Citi Field soon.
The umpiring assignments for the NLCS were released yesterday. Jeremie Rehak will be behind the plate in LA for Game 1.
David Peterson has stepped up this postseason by thriving in a relief role, writes Laura Albanese of Newsday.
Since hitting his majestic homer off Dylan Cease in Game 1 of the NLDS, Dodgers superstar Shohei Ohtani has looked off at the plate. At the moment, heading into the NLCS, Francisco Lindor looks like the better player, writes Jon Heyman of the New York Post.
Tyler Kepner of The Athletic takes a look at each of the four possible World Series matchups and ranked them from least to most interesting. He has a Subway Series matchup number two behind a Yankees-Dodgers World Series.
“A Subway Series no one saw coming would be quite a spectacle,” writes David Lennon of Newsday.
Some local delis are serving up special sandwiches in honor of the Mets and Yankees.
Around the National League East
Phillies top pitching prospect Andrew Painter made his long-awaited return to game action yesterday afternoon, throwing 29 pitches in a two-inning start in the Arizona Fall League.
Zachary Rotman of Fansided listed three players that are unlikely to return for the Braves in 2025.
It was a season of growth for the Washington Nationals, encapsulated by their season finale.
Around Major League Baseball
Lane Thomas’ fifth inning grand slam helped propel the Guardians to a 7-3 victory over the Tigers in Game 5 of the ALDS. The Guardians will now face the Yankees in the ALCS.
The fan who caught Thomas’ grand slam ball immediately handed it to another fan in a wheelchair—his cousin. Daniel Kramer of MLB.com wrote about the bond the two cousins have over a love of baseball.
Dodgers left-handed reliever Alex Vesia, who suffered a strained intercostal muscle, will likely not be on the Dodgers’ NLCS roster, according to Dave Roberts.
However, right-hander Tony Gonsolin may be “in the mix” to make the NLCS roster. Gonsolin has spent all season rehabbing from Tommy John surgery and the Dodgers previously indicated he’d be unlikely to pitch in the postseason, despite having begun a rehab assignment in September. However, the Dodgers’ pitching woes may force their hand.
Gavin Stone—one of the many pitchers the Dodgers are missing this postseason—underwent shoulder surgery on October 9 and will likely now be sidelined for the 2025 season as well.
Watching the home run from Teoscar Hernández that helped lift the Dodgers to a Game 5 victory and a ticket to the NLCS spurred some feelings of regret amongst Blue Jays fans.
Friday was Dave Roberts’ eighth winner-take-all playoff game as manager of the Dodgers. That breaks a tie with Bobby Cox (Braves) and Joe Torre (Yankees) for most postseason winner-take-all games managed with one team in MLB history.
The day after their season ended, the Padres announced that Ha-Seong Kim underwent shoulder surgery to repair his torn labrum, and Joe Musgrove had his Tommy John surgery.
Julio Rodríguez informed the Mariners’ front office that he doesn’t want them to trade any of their core five starting pitchers.
Reds righty Julian Aguiar underwent Tommy John surgery on Friday. He will miss the entire 2025 season.
Yesterday at Amazin’ Avenue
Brian Salvatore reviewed the Mets’ NLCS roster and the decisions they’ll have to make.
Chris McShane drove into the “OMG” streaming data.
This Date in Mets History
The So Taguchi game. I will not elaborate further. October 13, 2006. May the 2024 Mets redeem it.