Welcome back, Jeff McNeil!
The National League Championship Series begins tonight, and we now know both the times of every game in the series and the players who will be making up both teams’ rosters.
First, the schedule. While the times of the first few games had already been announced, the league has officially revealed the start times for every game in the series. Of particular note is Game 2’s 4:08 EST start time and a potential Game 5 beginning at 5:08 EST on Friday. All other games in the series are scheduled to begin within the 8:00 EST hour. Also worth noting: these times are final, regardless of how the ALCS games unfold.
Meanwhile, both the Mets and the Dodgers have tweeted out their rosters for the series. The one notable change for the Mets is the addition of Jeff McNeil, who has officially been declared good to go following his two rehab games in the Arizona Fall League. In a corresponding move, Adam Ottavino—who had not yet been called upon to pitch in the postseason—has been left off the roster. The decision means that Luisangel Acuña—who has thus far served as a late-inning defensive replacement—will remain on the squad, and McNeil’s presence may mean that the Mets will be in a better position to utilize the rookie as a pinch runner.
The Dodgers, meanwhile, will be without reliever Alex Vesia (who suffered an intercostal strain) and shortstop Miguel Rojas (who sustained a left adductor strain). Brent Honeywell and Kevin Keirmaier have replaced the two on the Los Angeles roster.