Series Thread: NLDS..NY METS vs. LA DODGERS

[Tai Chi≈Surfing]

Morning Briefing: Mets can finish off Dodgers in Game 4

NEW YORK -- (10/13)

FIRST PITCH: The New York Mets are within one game of advancing to the National League Championship Series.

Steven Matz starts a major league game for the first time in 19 days as the Amazin's look to eliminate the Los Angeles Dodgers in Game 4. The first pitch is scheduled for 8:07 p.m. ET on Tuesday.

Matz will oppose Clayton Kershaw, who will be pitching on short rest. Kershaw allowed three runs in 6 2/3 innings in Friday's opener and is winless in his last five postseason starts. Kershaw also came back on short rest in Game 4 of the NLDS a year ago in St. Louis. He allowed three runs in six innings in a 3-2 loss as Los Angeles was eliminated.

How Matz will fare is hard to predict because of his recent inactivity while dealing with back spasms. Manager Terry Collins hopes Bartolo Colon is available to back up Matz for a couple of innings. Matz tossed an 88-pitch simulated game on Thursday in Port St. Lucie, Florida, to tune up for Tuesday's start.

“l felt really good and strong finishing up in the intrasquad game down in Florida,” Matz said. “So I'm happy with how that went.”


TUESDAY'S NEWS REPORTS:

• Curtis Granderson drove in five runs, matching the franchise postseason record, and Travis d'Arnaud and Yoenis Cespedes homered and drove in three runs apiece as the Mets beat the Dodgers, 13-7, on Monday. The Dodgers had taken a 3-0 lead against Matt Harvey, but the Dark Knight battled through five innings to earn the win. Read game recaps in the Post, Daily News,Times, Newsday, Record and at NJ.com and MLB.com.
  
  
• Chase Utley was jeered throughout Monday's game, but never saw action. Utley was eligible to play because the appeal of his two-game suspension has not yet been heard. In fact, it may not be heard until after the division series. ESPN's Buster Olney reported that Utley declined a one-game plea deal. The Mets did not seek retaliation against any other players during Monday's game, instead preferring to have winning be the retribution. Ruben Tejada, using a Mets-colored cane, was cheered during pregame introductions. After Game 2, Utley sent a message to Tejada through a text message to captainDavid Wright. Wright would not answer if he thought Utley's message was sincere. Read more in the Post, Times and Record.
  
  
• Tejada will not need surgery to repair his fractured fibula.
  
  
• Matt Reynolds officially was added to the NLDS roster on Monday in place of Tejada. Free-agent-to-be Tim Stauffer was designated for assignment to clear the 40-man roster spot. Read more in Newsday.
  
  
• A Mets fan is in critical condition after getting punched and falling outside Dodger Stadium on Friday, KABC reports.
  
  
• Fred Kerber in the Post reviews the “creative” signs at Citi Field greeting Utley. There's also a photo gallery in the Daily News.
  
  
• Columnist Joel Sherman in the Post notes how valuable Granderson has been to the Mets.
  
  
• Columnist Bob Klapisch in the Record suggests that starting Matz in Game 4 is a better call than using Jacob deGrom on short rest.
  
  
• Dodgers PR shielded Utley from the media postgame, Mark Feinsand writesin the Daily News.
  
  
• Columnist Tara Sullivan in the Record recaps the electric evening.
  
  
• With Kershaw and then Greinke potentially looming if the series gets to a fifth game, the Mets have not advanced just yet, columnist John Harper writes in the Daily News.
  
  
• Cespedes used his legs to beat out an infield single leading off the second and sparked that big inning, columnist Mike Vaccaro writes in the Post.
  
  
• The Mets let their bats do the talking, columnist David Lennon writes in Newsday.
  
  
• The Mets are tied for the most homegrown players among all the postseason teams, Jared Diamond writes in the Journal.
  
  
• Read more on Matz in the Post and Newsday.
  
  
• Read more on Tejada in the Post and Newsday.
  
  
• Read more on Harvey in the Daily News and Newsday.
  
  
• Kershaw said he thought MLB was bullied into suspending Utley. Read more on Kershaw in the Post and Daily News.
  
  
• Read more on d'Arnaud in the Daily News and Times.
  
  
• Former Dodgers manager Tommy Lasorda told the Post that Utley seemed to go out of his way in decking Tejada on Saturday. Read more from Lasorda in the Daily News.
  
  
• Rep. Peter King (R-Seaford) applauded Utley's suspension while attending Monday's game, Anthony Rieber writes in Newsday.
  
  
• From the bloggers … Although not sharp, Mets Report suggests Harvey gave the Amazin's what they most needed.
  

 

[Tai Chi≈Surfing]

METS' YOUNG ARMS EXCELLING IN DEBUTS
Jacob deGrom, Noah Syndergaard and Matt Harvey have all posted big strikeout numbers in their first playoff starts.

 

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[Tai Chi≈Surfing]

NEW YORK (10/13)-- Here are the lineups for Tuesday's Game 4 of the National League Division Series between the New York Mets and Los Angeles Dodgers at Citi Field. The first pitch is scheduled for 8:07 p.m. ET as the Mets look to close out the series.

Ron Swoboda and Ed Charles from the 1969 champion Amazin's will toss ceremonial first pitches.

Steven Matz becomes the fourth rookie pitcher in Mets franchise history to start a postseason game, joining Gary Gentry, John Maine and Noah Syndergaard. Matz will be starting a major league game for the first time in 19 days.

Matz may have only six games in the major leagues on his resume, but he does have championship-clinching experience. In fact, he started his team’s clincher each of the last two postseasons in the minors. He took a no-hitter into the eighth inning in Double-A Binghamton's Eastern League championship clincher in 2014.

Clayton Kershaw will make his third career postseason start on three days’ rest for the Dodgers. He went 0-1 with a 2.24 ERA in the previous two, while throwing 102 and 91 pitches. He went six innings each time.




Curtis Granderson, RF

David Wright, 3B

Daniel Murphy, 2B

Yoenis Cespedes, LF

Travis d'Arnaud, C

Lucas Duda, 1B

Wilmer Flores, SS

Juan Lagares, CF

Matz, LHP



Dodgers

Enrique Hernandez, CF

Howie Kendrick, 2B

Adrian Gonzalez, 1B

Justin Turner, 3B

Corey Seager, SS

Yasiel Puig, RF

A.J. Ellis, C

Justin Ruggiano, LF

Kershaw, LHP

 

[Tai Chi≈Surfing]

 

[Tai Chi≈Surfing]

Mets couldn't close the deal....will now have to do it in a game 5 in LA....

New York Mets now look to Jacob deGrom to try to advance to NLCS - Mets Blog - ESPN

Steve Matz stumbles in return, New York Mets headed back to L.A. - Mets Blog - ESPN

Dodgers even NLDS behind Kershaw's gritty effort

 

[Tai Chi≈Surfing]

Morning Briefing: Mets headed back to L.A. for showdown with Dodgers


NEW YORK -- (10/14)

FIRST PITCH: No one said it was going to be easy.

The New York Mets and Los Angeles Dodgers will play a winner-take-all Game 5 at Dodger Stadium at 8:07 p.m. ET on Thursday.

Jacob deGrom will oppose Zack Greinke in the finale to their National League Division Series.

The winner will host the Chicago Cubs on Saturday in the opener to the National League Championship Series.

"You know what? It's probably dead even, to be honest," Clayton Kershaw said in analyzing the Game 5 matchup. "As good as Zack is and has been the whole year, deGrom has been the same. So there's really no home-field advantage when you're facing a guy like deGrom. We saw that in Game 1. He's just very impressive, you know, just very tough to square up. If you can get strikeouts on heaters like he can, it's really tough."

WEDNESDAY'S NEWS REPORTS:

• Pitching on short rest, Kershaw limited the Mets to a solo homer by Daniel Murphy in seven innings and the Dodgers avoided elimination by beating the Mets, 3-1, in Game 4. Kershaw snapped a five-game postseason losing streak.Steven Matz allowed three runs in five innings in his first major league game in 19 days. "We wanted to win it tonight," Murphy said after the loss. "Unfortunately, we didn't. So we'll go across the country and try to win it out there." Read recaps in the Post, Daily News, Times, Journal, Newsday, Recordand at MLB.com.
  
  
• DeGrom threw in the bullpen during Game 4. Manager Terry Collins said he was prepared to use the ace if the Mets had a lead in the game and needed a bridge to their late-inning relievers.
  
  
• Chase Utley's appeal is expected to be heard Monday, after the NLDS. Utley did not appear in either game at Citi Field. Read more in the Post and Daily News.
  
  
• The LAPD is looking for a mother and son who allegedly critically injured a man outside of Dodger Stadium after Game 1. The victim reportedly is a Mets fan. Read more in the Daily News.
  
  
• Chipper Jones is rooting for the Mets. DeGrom went to Stetson University, where Chipper's godfather remains the baseball coach. Read more in the Post.
  
  
• Matt Harvey will not be used in relief in Game 5. Read more in the Daily News and at MLB.com.
  
  
• Juan Uribe (chest) is expected to miss the NLCS if the Mets advance.
  
  
• Omar Minaya attended Tuesday's game, Dan Martin writes in the Post. Minaya's regime drafted Matz.
  
  
• It's now a one-game season for the Mets, columnist Joel Sherman notes in the Post.
  
  
• Columnists Bob Klapisch in the Record and Tara Sullivan in the Recordanalyze the state of the series.
  
  
• Columnist David Lennon in Newsday dissects Kershaw's outing.
  
  
• Mets castoff Justin Turner is 7-for-15 with four doubles and three RBIs in the series. "He's changed his batting style a little bit, but he's a good baseball player," Collins said. "He always has been. He did a great job while he was here. We root for him. We all cheered for him. We like him. We like him in the clubhouse. Tremendous guy in the clubhouse. And he's a good player. When he was here there wasn't a position that he played that we were concerned about. He was also, I thought, my best bat off the bench. My first year here when Jose Reyes got hurt, he stepped in." Read more in the Daily News and Times.
  
  
• Read more on Matz's outing in Newsday, the Daily News and Times.
  
  
• Working for the second straight day and third time in the series, Bartolo Colon logged two scoreless innings Tuesday. Read more in the Times andNewsday.
  
  
• From the bloggers … Faith and Fear listens in as Shea Stadium and Citi Field swap postseason stories. … Despite the defeat, Mets Report suggests that Matz showed he is ready for a big stage.
  

 

[Tai Chi≈Surfing]

Mets rookie Michael Conforto to start in Game 5 of NLDS

LOS ANGELES -- Rookie Michael Conforto will get the start in left field in Thursday's winner-take-all National League Division Series finale between theNew York Mets and the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Conforto is only starting against right-handed pitching. In this series, that means only starting against Zack Greinke in Games 2 and 5.

Michael Cuddyer started the division series opener in left field against Clayton Kershaw. In Games 3 and 4 against Brett Anderson and then Kershaw, Juan Lagares started in center field, with Yoenis Cespedes shifting to left field.

Conforto is 1-for-4 with a homer and two RBIs in five plate appearances in the NLDS.

Other than Conforto in left field and Wilmer Flores starting over injured Ruben Tejada, manager Terry Collins will stick with his familiar starters: Travis d'Arnaud, Lucas Duda, Daniel Murphy, David Wright, Cespedes and Curtis Granderson.

Duda and Wright are a combined 3-for-27 with 14 strikeouts in the series.

“If everybody was hitting, we wouldn't still be playing Game 5,” Collins said late Wednesday at Dodger Stadium.

Collins noted that Wright did have a clutch two-RBI single against Pedro Baez in the seventh inning of Game 1, plus has walked five times in the series.

 

[Tai Chi≈Surfing]

Matt Harvey, Noah Syndergaard both available for Game 5 relief

LOS ANGELES -- The Matt Harvey innings hullabaloo officially is behind theNew York Mets.

After receiving flak for departing a Subway Series game on Sept. 20 after tossing five scoreless innings, Harvey went to manager Terry Collins to relax his innings restrictions. He then proceeded to make full-length starts in his final two regular-season appearances.

Now, Collins said, Harvey again has told the manager he is willing to ease his innings restrictions in his first season back from Tommy John surgery. This time, Harvey and Collins spoke on Wednesday’s cross-country flight to California. Harvey told the manager he is willing to be available in relief if needed in Thursday’s winner-take-all Game 5 against the Los Angeles Dodgers.

So Harvey and Noah Syndergaard will be available for an inning or two apiece. Collins said he can even foresee Syndergaard serving in a setup role to Jeurys Familia.

Jacob deGrom will start opposite Zack Greinke in the 8:07 p.m. ET game at Dodger Stadium.

“We’re going to be smart about it,” Collins said. “We’re not going to be foolish and go right to Matt Harvey, say, if Jake’s in trouble in the second inning. I think we’ve got to be wise enough to know that this will be the first time he’s ever done something like this, too.”

Harvey currently is at 194 1/3 innings, including his start in Game 3 of the NLDS. Agent Scott Boras last month had advocated that Harvey not exceed 180 innings including the postseason.

“He wants to pitch,” Collins said about Harvey. “I don’t think he ever shied away from the fact he wanted to pitch in the postseason. We’re here now, and he’s ready to take the ball when we need it.”

 

[Tai Chi≈Surfing]

Jacob deGrom, Zack Greinke make small talk on eve of big game

LOS ANGELES -- New York Mets right-hander Jacob deGrom bumped into Game 5 opponent Zack Greinke on the field at Dodger Stadium on Wednesday afternoon. So the aces briefly chatted on the eve of their winner-take-all National League Division Series game.

“We were kind of just talking about when they flew in and our flight. Nothing too serious,” deGrom said. “I had a chance to meet him at the All-Star Game. Good guy. When you see baserunners on, normally they’ll talk to the first baseman or something. So all the guys pretty much get along.”

DeGrom tossed seven scoreless innings in the NLDS opener in Los Angeles on Friday. Greinke limited the Mets to two runs in seven innings in a win the following day.

"It’s probably dead even, to be honest,” Los Angeles Dodgers co-ace Clayton Kershaw said. “As good as Zack is, and has been the whole year, deGrom has been the same. So there’s really no home-field advantage when you’re facing a guy like deGrom. We saw that in Game 1. He’s just very impressive, you know, just very tough to square up. If you can get strikeouts on heaters like he can, it’s really tough.”

Once the Mets determined that Matt Harvey would start only one game in the NLDS, deGrom instantly became the right person to pitch the first and last games of the series.


Jacob DeGrom tossed seven scoreless innings in the NLDS opener in Los Angeles on Friday. Al Bello/Getty Images

“One of the things when we set our rotation down, we felt that he was pitching the best of anybody,” manager Terry Collins said. “That’s not to take anything away from Noah [Syndergaard], how well he was throwing, or Harv. We just thought this guy was pitching the best. So if anybody was going to pitch two games in this series for us, it would be Jake deGrom. It’s worked out that way. Fortunately we didn’t have to bring him back on short rest. He hasn’t done it, and I was uncomfortable doing it. We’re lucky he’s got an extra day.”

Collins did have deGrom hold back throwing his standard between-starts bullpen session on Tuesday afternoon, so that deGrom would be available to pitch an inning in relief in Game 4 if the Mets had a late lead and could have closed out the series. That opportunity never materialized, so deGrom threw his standard bullpen session during the sixth inning of that eventual 3-1 win by the Dodgers. DeGrom said he never got the sense the Mets were overly serious about using him, even in the scenario Collins laid out.

“Even toward game time I think it was kind of still iffy if I was going to get used,” deGrom said. “Nothing was really guaranteed. But I think it was leaning more toward no.”

DeGrom called Thursday’s start “probably the biggest game I’ve ever pitched.”

Still, he noted, several games have prepared him well for the high stakes.

“I think my debut being in the Subway Series against the Yankees, that was a pretty big stage for me. And that was definitely one of the biggest games I’ve ever pitched,” deGrom said. “So I think that helped me with breaking in right away. The All-Star Game this year has helped me, and [starting] the home opener at Citi Field helped me also.”

 

[Tai Chi≈Surfing]

LOS ANGELES -- Here are the lineups for the winner-take-all Game 5 between the New York Mets and Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium. First pitch of the National League Division Series game is scheduled for 8:07 p.m.

The Mets are 2-3 in franchise history in winner-take-all games, beating theCincinnati Reds in Game 5 of the 1973 NLCS and the Boston Red Sox in Game 7 of the 1986 World Series. The Amazin's are 7-5 all time in elimination games.

Mets

Curtis Granderson, RF

David Wright, 3B

Daniel Murphy, 2B

Yoenis Cespedes, CF

Lucas Duda, 1B

Travis d'Arnaud, C

Michael Conforto, LF

Wilmer Flores, SS

Jacob deGrom, RHP



Dodgers

Howie Kendrick, 2B

Corey Seager, SS

Adrian Gonzalez, 1B

Justin Turner, 3B

Andre Ethier, RF

Yasmani Grandal, C

Enrique Hernandez, LF

Joc Pederson, CF

Zack Greinke, RHP

 

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[omarsrevenge]

Awesome game, awesome series. Not sure my heart can take much more of this. LGM

 

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Congrats fellow Mets' fans....

Here's all the goods.....

Mets conquer Greinke, Dodgers to reach NLCS




Amazin' Daniel Murphy, Jacob deGrom send New York Mets to NLCS - Mets Blog - ESPN

Daniel Murphy, Mets - ESPN (post game w/ Buster Olney)



DANIEL MURPHY GETS ROYAL BEER TREATMENT
When you drive in two of your team's three runs -- including the game winner -- you get Yoenis Cespedes pouring beer on you.

 

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THESE NY METS ARE GOING ON TO THE NLCS
And they'll meet the Chicago Cubs for Game 1 Saturday at Citi Field.

 

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Daniel "Mets Legend" Murphy.
Thursday's Top 5: Daniel Murphy becomes a New York Mets legend - SweetSpot - ESPN

Free agency can wait for New York Mets' Daniel Murphy after heroics - Mets Blog - ESPN

 

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I just ordered these......should be arriving in 3-5 days...

 

[R.J. MacReady]

Congrats Met fans. Nice job.