The Los Angeles Dodgers are on the brink of advancing to the World Series, holding a commanding 3-1 lead over the New York Mets in the National League Championship Series.
Dodgers star Mookie Betts has issued a stern warning to their opponents ahead of Game 5, scheduled for Friday night at Citi Field.
The Dodgers have dominated the series thus far, outscoring the Mets by an astonishing 30-5 margin across four games.
Betts, who delivered a stellar 4-for-6 performance with four RBIs in Game 4, expressed unwavering confidence in his team’s ability to close out the series.
Speaking to the MLB on Fox postgame show, Betts said: “We know that they’re going to come back, ready to go, (Francisco) Lindor’s probably gonna have a nice speech and get them boys ready to go.
“But we will, too. We’ll be ready to come throw some haymakers tomorrow.”
This confident statement came after the Dodgers’ convincing 10-2 victory in Game 4.
Mookie Betts has rubbed salt in the sounds for the Mets
Reuters
The Dodgers have won the first two games in New York decisively, with 8-0 and 10-2 scorelines.
Betts himself has been instrumental, finishing one triple short of the cycle in Game 4.
The Mets, despite facing elimination, have shown resilience throughout October.
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They secured their postseason berth with a comeback victory and staged a dramatic ninth-inning rally in the decisive Game 3 of the wild card round.
However, the Dodgers’ formidable lineup, led by Betts and Shohei Ohtani, presents a significant challenge.
The Mets now face an uphill battle, needing to win three consecutive games to reach the World Series for the first time in nine years.
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Mookie Betts has spearheaded a brutal Dodgers attack
Reuters
Their task begins with Game 5 at home, followed by potential Games 6 and 7 in Los Angeles on Sunday and Monday.
The pitching matchup for Game 5 sees the Dodgers’ Jack Flaherty, the Game 1 hero, facing off against the Mets’ David Peterson.
A Dodgers victory would secure their fourth World Series appearance since 2017. For the Mets, a win is crucial to keep their championship hopes alive.
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The Dodgers have a commanding lead over the Mets
Reuters
The Dodgers are keen to wrap up the series, mindful of a potential pitching advantage for the Mets in Game 6.
Betts, a former AL MVP and two-time World Series champion, emphasised the importance of embracing the emotions of the moment.
“When the game starts you’ve got to ride those emotions, embrace them, the highs and the lows,” he said.