The Dodgers were low on starting pitching midyear, so they traded for Jack Flaherty. The Mets were low on starting pitching in October, so they activated Kodai Senga and hoped for the best. And for everything I've said about the Dodgers' snakebitten rotation, and the number of people that have gone down in important moments...they never pushed any of them. Walker Buehler slowly made his way back and he's been doing better. Kershaw wasn't rushed back to the active roster, at least not yet. There was no effort to wake up Gonsolin or May or Glasnow for the playoffs.
Which may explain why Flaherty went 7 strong for his strongest postseason start ever and Senga got chased while only throwing ten strikes. The Dodgers didn't want to force anyone to pitch before they were healthy. The Mets weren't going to wait for Senga to be sure, they needed a sure bet. And so, Dodgers 1, Mets 0. By 9 runs.
It's more complex than Flaherty, as excellent as he is. The Dodgers' lineup was lovely tonight, with Ohtani, Muncy, Freeman and Betts having huge moments, and the scoreless streak continuing thanks to Blake Treinen and Ben Casparius, whoever that is. As limp as the Dodgers could seem during some moments in the Padres' series, they seem revitalized, confident and hungry now. And thus, this Dodgers-Mets series is looking...like what someone could have guessed it'd be around May. It can always turn around, and there's still at least 3 more games to see if the Mets are gonna respond, but at this moment it's looking like the Dodgers are going to be very difficult to beat.
Tomorrow, we see if the road to the Payroll Bowl becomes any more likely, or if Cleveland has other ideas.
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