The Mets beat the Dodgers 7-3 to even the NLCS at one game apiece and insure at least five games. The teams combined to issue 15 walks, eight against the Mets staff, seven against the Dodgers. They also combined for 17 strikeouts, so 32 or 84 PA did not result in a bat on the ball.

The Mets got to the Dodgers pitchers early, scoring six runs off the first two in as the Dodgers went exclusively with bullpen hurlers. That does mean the Los Angeles high leverage pitchers will be very well rested for the three games in New York.

The Dodgers scratch back with one run in the fifth on a Max Muncy home run and two runs in the sixth on a bases loaded single by Tommy Edman. The Mets get out of the sixth when they turn a double play by a hair, including a bobble at third, a near take-out at second, and Pete Alonso with a toe on the bag at first. The teams got to the seventh inning with the Mets leading 6-3 in game two of the NLCS.

The Dodgers become the third team to throw three consecutive shutouts in the post season and tie the 1966 Orioles record for 33 consecutive post-season innings with a 9-0 win over the Mets. Starter Jack Flaherty tossed seven innings, allowing two hits and two walks for the win, the best start of his post-season career.

Not to be lost in the pitching perfection is the top of the Dodgers order. Shohei Ohtani, Mookie Betts, and Freddie Freeman combined to go five for eleven with three walks, a double, four runs, and five RBI. In fact, Betts’ bases loaded, bases clearing double was the only extra-base hit for the Dodgers in the game. They collected eight singles and seven walks.

We’ll see if another bullpen games allows the Mets to break through with a run on Monday. The Dodgers lead the NLCS one game to none.

Correction: I based the record on the broadcast, but I got it wrong. The 1966 Orioles pitched 33 consecutive scoreless innings. The 1905 Giants pitched three straight shutouts, but 28 scoreless innings.

Fox Sports must be very happy as they potentially could broadcast two New York against Los Angeles series in a row. The National League Championship Series (NLCS) features the wild card Mets taking on the NL West champion Dodgers, the first game taking place Sunday night. The Mets eliminated two other division champions, the Brewers and the Phillies, while the Dodgers had to come back from a 1-2 deficit in the NLDS to defeat the Padres in five games.

Here is a comparison of the team offenses:

The Dodger simply played better in every aspect of offense than the Mets over the course of the season. The Mets do bring hot hitters into the series, but the Padres hitters were hot until the Dodgers shutout them down. Small sample sizes can switch from hot to cold quickly.

The next table compares the two teams on pitching and defense:

Here the two sides are much closer. The Dodgers do a slightly better job of preventing runs. The Mets pitchers strike out more batters, someone neutralizing the Dodgers batters advantage in BABIP. The Mets pitchers walk a lot more batters, and the Dodgers batters are willing to take a walk.

The Mets strength in pitching lies in preventing home runs. That goes right at a big strength of the Dodgers offense, hitting home runs. Going the other way, the Dodgers pitchers would in general do a poor job of neutralizing the Mets bats when it comes to the long ball. As we’ve seen in the playoffs, when runs are scarce, home runs win games.

The Dodgers advantage on offense and home field advantage should be enough to give them a win in the series, but it is by no means a slam dunk. In a low scoring the Mets can generate enough power to win close games. So I give a very slight edge to Los Angeles, with a 52% chance of advancing to the World Series.