Who’s Pitching Game 1 for Dodgers in NLCS vs Mets?

The Los Angeles Dodgers are advancing to the National League Championship Series for the first time since 2021. They will take on the New York Mets in the best-of-seven series, which will commence on Sunday at Dodger Stadium.

Right-hander Jack Flaherty is the likely starter for Game 1, but the Dodgers haven’t confirmed.

The Dodgers, who were down 2-1 in the National League Divison Series, had their back against the wall and won two consecutive games against their division rivals, the San Diego Padres. The Dodgers will now move on and look to win their fourth NL pennant in the Dave Roberts era.

Dodgers right-handed ace and $325 million man Yoshinobu Yamamoto pitched a gem in his second career playoff game. Yamamoto was lights out in Game 5 pitching five scoreless innings, allowing only two hits, two strikeouts, and zero runs. It was night and day compared to his last start, and he came up big when it mattered most.

Now, the page turns to Sunday and the Mets, who are on a hot streak. The Mets will come to Dodger Stadium for Game 1 on Sunday, but the question now becomes, who will pitch for the Dodgers in Game 1?

All signs point to the Dodgers going with their right-handed ace and trade deadline acquisition Flaherty. However, Roberts may keep his cards close to his vest.

If Roberts goes with Flaherty, he will go with the guy who has the most rest. Flaherty last pitched on Sunday in Game 2 for the Dodgers in the NLDS; however, his outing was one to forget. In 5.1 innings, he allowed five runs, four earned runs, two strikeouts, two home runs, and one walk in 90 pitches.

Overall, Flaherty has been solid in his Dodger tenure, recording a 6-2 record, 3.58 ERA, 61 strikeouts, 108 ERA+, 4.16 FIP, and a 1.28 WHIP in 55.1 innings and 10 starts.

The other pitcher who Roberts could go with is right-handed pitcher Walker Buehler. Buehler pitched in Tuesday night’s tough Game 3 loss to the Padres, where he allowed seven hits, six earned runs, one home run, and zero strikeouts in 77 pitches, with 52 of them he threw for strikes.

Buehler has appeared to find his groove over his last handful of starts, so Roberts and the front office will have a lot to think about on Saturday.

Who would you want to pitch in Game 1 against New York?

Photo Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images

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