Editorials

Dodgers News: Don Mattingly Keeping An Eye On New York Mets

Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports
Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports

With two weeks remaining in the regular season, the Los Angeles Dodgers control their own destiny and where they may land in terms of playoff seeding. The club enters play Monday with a comfortable 7.5-game lead over the San Francisco Giants in the National League West, with 14 games left to play.

Another NL team that is also jostling for position in the standings is the New York Mets. One of the surprises on the year, the Mets’ surged into contention after multiple trades and like the Dodgers, can clinch their division so long as they continue winning.

While division titles would be a step in the right direction for the Dodgers and Mets, another important factor is at play — home-field advantage in a likely NL Division Series matchup. The Dodgers, 85-63, currently sit ahead of the Mets, 84-65, in the overall NL standings.

When asked whether or not he is paying attention the Mets, Dodgers manager Don Mattingly acknowledged he is. “A little bit,” he said. “I’m trying to watch the teams we’re going to play.”

The two clubs met seven times this year, with the Mets coming out on the top in the season series — thus giving them the tiebreaker should they finish tied with the Dodgers in the standings.

Los Angeles took one out of three games at home and two of four at Citi Field. The Mets finish the season with matchups against the Atlanta Braves, Cincinnati Reds, Philadelphia Phillies and Washington Nationals.

The Dodgers meanwhile open a four-game set with the Arizona Diamondbacks on Monday, then travel to Colorado and San Francisco for three and four-game series, before returning home for three with the San Diego Padres to close out regular-season play.

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Staff Writer

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