When is Mets vs. Dodgers NLCS Game 1? Date, time and statements

NEW YORK — In late May, the last time the Mets saw the Dodgers, the series changed its season. The Dodgers defeated the Mets in three games, prompting shortstop Francisco Lindor to call a players-only meeting at Citi Field.

The group talked to each other about responsibility. To this day, many Mets credit that meeting for the turnaround that followed.

The best-of-seven series begins on Sunday evening in Los Angeles.

“It won’t be easy,” Mets outfielder Brandon Nimmo said on clinch night when asked about a matchup against one of the NL West teams. “None of that is. That’s what the postseason is all about. But we like our chances against everyone.”

The Dodgers won four of the six regular season games against the Mets. They are the top seeds in the standings and have the best player in the sport in Shohei Ohtani. The Mets are the lowest seed on the NL side of the bracket. But that doesn’t quite tell the story of these two teams, as the Dodgers struggled with injuries all year, particularly in their rotation, while the Mets had the best MLB record since May 30 – the day after their last Series against the Dodgers ended.

The Mets also have a happy recent history on their side. In 2015, a losing Mets team stormed into Chavez Ravine, upset the Dodgers in the deciding Game 5 of the NL Division Series, and then made it to the World Series. This time they want to do something similar.

But the ever-competitive Dodgers have other ideas. They want to prove that, despite all the adversity they’ve faced this season, they have what it takes to persevere well into October and win a second World Series title in the last five seasons.

“As you can see, we’re going to celebrate tonight,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said after the Game 5 win over the Padres. “But the work is not done yet and you will see the focus and fire going forward with the expectation of winning eight more games. And the Mets team is playing really good baseball, but we’ll be ready.”

Here’s everything you need to know about Game 1.

When does the game take place and how can I watch it?
Game 1 of the NLCS is scheduled for Sunday at 8:00 p.m. ET/5:00 p.m. PT at Dodger Stadium.

All games are available in the US on MLB.TV (requires authentication with a participating pay-TV provider). Live games are also available in select countries outside the US. Detailed information can be found here.

Who are the starting pitchers?
Mets: RHP Kodai Senga
Manager Carlos Mendoza announced that Senga would go in Game 1, followed by Sean Manaea in Game 2. Senga was a surprising decision to start NLDS Game 1 against the Phillies, but the right-hander pitched two solid innings after striking out Kyle Schwarber left a home run in the lineup in his first start since July 26.

Dodgers: RHP Jack Flaherty
The Dodgers officially announced on Saturday that Flaherty will take the mound in Game 1. Flaherty was an option out of the bullpen in Friday’s winner-take-all game against the Padres, but the Dodgers didn’t need to use him. This ensured that Flaherty, the club’s big trade deadline acquisition, would be available to take the ball in the first game against the Mets. Flaherty will be looking for a strong start after allowing four runs over 5 1/3 innings in Game 2 of the NLDS.

What are the starting lineups?
Mets: During the Wild Card Series and the NLDS, Mendoza’s day-to-day lineup decisions were straightforward. Aside from the actual DH force between JD Martinez and Jesse Winker, Mendoza used the same personnel in six of the team’s seven games in those rounds. But things get even more complicated in the NLCS, as second baseman Jeff McNeil is likely to return from a wrist injury. It’s unclear how Mendoza plans to use McNeil at second base and right field, as Jose Iglesias and Starling Marte have both played well.

Dodgers: The Dodgers are dealing with some injuries to Freddie Freeman and Miguel Rojas, but they should play in much the same way as they did in Game 5 of the NLDS against the Padres. Kiké Hernández has secured a spot in the future lineup, which could mean Rojas’ playing time will be limited.

How will the bullpens be lined up according to each team’s starter?
Mets: Due to the rest days from Thursday to Saturday, the Mets will enter the NLCS with a bullpen as fresh as they have been since mid-September. Everyone should be available, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t concerns. At the top of the list is closer Edwin Díaz, who has had just one error-free inning since September 21st. In the 2024 postseason, Díaz walked five of the 17 batters he faced. One of the Mets’ top priorities will be getting him right.

Phil Maton and Ryne Stanek will continue to serve as Díaz’s top setup men. The Mets also have left-hander David Peterson, who can be used from a high-leverage left-to-lefty to a multi-inning option.

Dodgers: It was a long NLDS for the bullpen, but he played a monumental role in the Dodgers closing out the series with 24 straight scoreless innings against one of the majors’ best offenses. Blake Treinen, Evan Phillips and Michael Kopech will be the big right-handed options for Los Angeles. Provided he is healthy, Anthony Banda and Alex Vesia will continue to play the main duties on the left side.

Any notable injuries?
Mets: McNeil is almost certain to be on the active roster after playing one final game of the Arizona Fall League on Saturday. The second baseman/outfielder has been out since Sept. 6 with a broken right wrist, but rejoined the team last weekend and has been participating in daily baseball activities since. McNeil made an AFL appearance on Friday and is expected to do so again on Saturday. From there he will fly directly to Los Angeles.

Lindor is still receiving daily treatment for the back injury he suffered in mid-September. But these days it hardly bothers him anymore. Basically he is a full-fledged player again.

Dodgers: Freeman could be limited over the course of the series as he continues to battle a severe right ankle sprain, but the star first baseman should be ready for Game 1 on Sunday. Rojas is dealing with a torn left adductor muscle and could come off the bench as a substitute or defensive substitute. As for Vesia, the left-hander will undergo further testing on his left side on Saturday after exiting Friday before the eighth inning with what the Dodgers hoped was a cramp.

Who’s hot and who’s not?
Mets: Alonso scored two goals in four NLDS games, both on the opponent’s field. He’s been on fire since he gave the Mets the lead in Game 3 of the Wild Card Series in Milwaukee. Nimmo went 4-for-14 with a home run during the NLDS and has been hot the last two weeks. Lindor has naturally developed a knack for coming through in moments big and small, as evidenced by his grand slam in NLDS Game 4 and his .906 OPS during that series. But no one is hotter than Vientos, who had multiple hits in all four NLDS games and batted .563 in the round.

As for the not-so-hot Mets, they are in the bottom third of New York’s lineup. Marte, Alvarez and Taylor combined to bat .135 in the NLDS without an extra-base hit.

Dodgers: Perhaps no one on the Dodgers likes October more than Kiké Hernández, who now has 14 career postseason homers after his second-inning drive off Yu Darvish in Game 5 of the NLDS. Teoscar Hernández was also a big hit for the Dodgers this postseason with two game-winning home runs.

The Dodgers could use a little more offensive production from Muncy, Smith and Edman, all of whom struggled at times with the Padres. Ohtani will also look to rebound from his first three-strikeout game of the postseason.

Is there anything else fans would like to know?
• The Mets and Dodgers have met three times in October, starting with Los Angeles’ NLCS win in 1988 in a series that is still considered one of the best postseason series. The Mets got revenge in the 2006 NLDS by defeating the Dodgers and again in 2015 with a highly entertaining NLDS win.

• A subplot of this series will be the performance of Yoshinobu Yamamoto, who was outstanding for the Dodgers in NLDS Game 5. The Mets were reportedly the only team to match Los Angeles’ $325 million offer to Yamamoto last offseason. Now the Mets will try to get a win against him in the postseason.

• While the Mets led the way with a 67-40 record from May 30 through the end of the season, the Dodgers weren’t far behind at 62-42. Both finished in the top five in the MLB during that time.