By: Mike Rifkin
For the final time this regular season the two teams with the best record in the National League will play when the Dodgers and Mets open up a three game series Tuesday night at Citi Field. The two teams played a four game set at Dodger Stadium in early June and split the four games. The Dodgers won the first two and the Mets won the last two.
At 88-38 the Dodgers own the best record in baseball and are running away with the NL West again. The Dodgers are loaded offensively. They lead MLB in Batting Average hitting .263 and in ERA 2.83. The Dodgers are fifth in Home Runs with 168. They have three MVP candidates with Freddie Freeman, Trea Turner and Mookie Betts. Freddie Freeman the former Brave is currently second in the MLB in hitting with ,327 with 16 Home Runs and 81 RBI. Freeman is a Met killer in 192 career games against New York Freeman is hitting .304 with 28 Home Runs and 115 RBI. Trea Turner the former Washington National is fifth in MLB with a .311 Batting Average with 18 Home Runs and 86 RBI. When talking about Trea Turner you have to talk about his speed he can fly. This year he is 21-23 in Stolen Bases and in his career against the Mets he is 33-38 in Stolen Bases in 83 games while hitting .297 with 13 home runs and 39 RBI. Mookie Betts is hitting .281 with 31 Homers, 69 RBI’s and is 12-13 in Stolen Bases. Betts, Turner and Freeman set the tone for a lethal Dodger lineup. Then there is former Met Justin Turner who just crushes is old team. Turner in his career against New York is hitting.265 with Nine Home Runs and 24 RBI in 43 games.
The Mets are 82-47 eight games behind the Dodgers for the best record in the National League. The Mets are hitting .257 which is Seventh in MLB and they are Fifth with a 3.53 team ERA. While the Dodgers are fifth in Home Runs, the Mets are Seventeenth with 129. The Mets offense is all about just putting the ball in play. There is no better example then Jeff McNeil who is third in MLB with a .321 Batting Average. But McNeil has struggled against the Dodgers in 16 career games he is hitting .140 with four RBI. Starling Marte who also is having a solid season has struggled against the Dodgers. In 48 games Marte is hitting .198 with three Home Runs. First baseman Pete Alonso who is tied for fourth in MLB with 31 Home Runs and tied for second with 105 RBI’s is hitting .286 with Seven Home Runs and 16 RBI career against Los Angeles.
The Starting Pitching matchups are Andrew Heaney vs Taijuan Walker tonight, Tyler Anderson vs Jacob deGrom tomorrow, and Clayton Kershaw vs Chris Bassitt Thursday afternoon. According to Dave Roberts Kershaw will be activated off the IL to make the start. Most people would say the matchups favor the Mets but Heaney is 2-1 with a 1.94 ERA and Anderson is 13-2 with a 2.69 ERA. On June third Anderson threw six shutout innings against the Mets in a 6-1 Dodgers win. Because of the pitching matchups, because of the standings and just for confidence reasons the Mets have to win two of three. Will we see this again in October? Who knows but enjoy watching two of the best teams in baseball duke it out the next three days.
The Sports Insanity Network 