The Los Angeles Dodgers will kick off the NLCS against the New York Mets at home, with the first two games of the series set to take place at Dodger Stadium—a clear advantage for the team. However, they’ll need to be cautious of the Mets’ bullpen, which, according to Jack Flaherty, could be a dangerous weapon.
In recent comments, Dodgers starting pitcher Jack Flaherty praised the strong performance of the Mets’ pitching staff during the second half of the 2024 MLB season, something few had anticipated.
“What they’ve been able to do in the second half with their lineup, their pitching, their bullpen… it’s a really good team,” Flaherty said when asked about the Mets‘ surprising regular and postseason run, despite not being early favorites.
Flaherty is expected to be one of the starting pitchers the Dodgers will use in the NLCS against the Mets. His two most recent outings were against the San Diego Padres, where he took a 10-2 loss in one game and secured a 4-3 win in another.
Mets Bullpen Pitchers
The Mets’ starting rotation includes Sean Manaea, Luis Severino, Kodai Senga, José Quintana, and David Peterson. Manager Carlos Mendoza has confirmed Kodai Senga as the Game 1 starter against the Dodgers.
On the bullpen side, the Mets have relief pitchers Reed Garrett, Ryne Stanek, José Butto, and Adam Ottavino. Dedniel Núñez is currently on the injured list, and their closer is Edwin Díaz, who has racked up 20 saves this season.