The New York Mets have tied their National League Championship Series (NLCS) with the Los Angeles Dodgers 1-1, but they are facing new challenges as they head into the next three games at Citi Field. Injuries and poor performances from key players are putting extra pressure on the team. If the Mets want to win, they need to play their best baseball.
Brandon Nimmo’s Injury Concern One of the biggest worries for the Mets is outfielder Brandon Nimmo’s health. Nimmo has been dealing with a painful foot condition called plantar fasciitis, which has gotten worse during the playoffs. He first hurt his foot in May, but the injury occurred again during the previous series against the Phillies. Nimmo says the injury doesn’t affect his hitting or fielding, but running is painful, especially when he slows down.
Nimmo is an important player for the Mets, both in defense and hitting. Despite the injury, he is determined to stay in the lineup. Nimmo said, “It’s the NLCS. You do whatever you can for the team.” But his injury limits the Mets’ defensive options because they don’t have many backup outfielders.
Francisco Alvarez’s Struggles at the Plate Catcher Francisco Alvarez has been struggling to hit in the postseason. So far, he only has five hits in 32 at-bats, and his aggressive style has led to poor results. Manager Carlos Mendoza still trusts Alvarez, especially for his catching skills, but the Mets need him to improve his hitting.
Backup catcher Luis Torrens hasn’t been very helpful either, so the team is sticking with Alvarez. If Alvarez can improve his hitting, it could really help the Mets’ offense.
Defensive Mistakes Could Hurt the Mets In this series, the Mets have made some defensive errors that could cost them against the strong Dodgers team. In Game 2, a few mistakes led to runs for the Dodgers. First baseman Pete Alonso and shortstop Jose Iglesias both made errors that gave the Dodgers extra chances to score.
Pitchers Luis Severino and Jose Quintana, who will start the next two games for the Mets, rely on solid defense behind them. The Dodgers are a team that can score in many ways, so the Mets need to improve their defense if they want to win.
Uncertainty Around Kodai Senga Another issue for the Mets is pitcher Kodai Senga. He struggled in Game 1 of the NLCS, and the team hasn’t decided if he will start again in Game 5. Senga struggled with his fastball and splitter in his last game, and the Mets are still trying to fix how he throws.
If Senga doesn’t pitch, the Mets can use other players like David Peterson or Tylor Megill, but this might make their bullpen weaker. It’s a tough decision for the team as they try to stay competitive against the Dodgers.
Edwin Díaz did better in Game 2. After a rough beginning, he struck out Dodgers star Mookie Betts with some good fastballs. When Díaz trusts his fastball, he’s one of the best closers. The Mets need him to keep pitching well to stop the Dodgers in the final innings.
The Mets have shown they are a strong team, but injuries and struggles from key players like Brandon Nimmo and Francisco Alvarez are making things difficult. The next three games at home could give the Mets an advantage, but they need to improve their defense and pitching consistency. As the series goes on, each game becomes more important as the Mets chase their first World Series appearance since 2015.
