‘Storybook-type stuff’: Three reasons the Mets believe they can win the pennant
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Jesse Rogers, ESPN Staff Writer
LOS ANGELES — The New York Mets are down 3-2 to the Dodgers in the National League Championship Series, facing two potential elimination games on the road, but they hardly seem fazed.
Been there, done that.
Remember the Mets’ come-from-behind road win to clinch a playoff spot on the Monday before the postseason began? How about the down-to-the-last-out victory they pulled off in the wild-card round, when Pete Alonso took Milwaukee Brewers closer Devin Williams deep in the ninth? New York’s subsequent four-game division series upset over the Philadelphia Phillies seems anticlimactic in comparison.
And then came Game 5 of this series on Friday. The Mets pummeled Dodgers starter Jack Flaherty for eight runs in three innings, keeping their World Series hopes alive after losing Games 3 and 4 at home the previous two nights.
Now comes their toughest test to date. At Dodger Stadium, with its hostile crowd of more than 50,000 fans, the Mets need two wins against the team with the best record in baseball. In other words, the Mets have the Dodgers right where they want them.
“It wouldn’t be our story if it didn’t go this way,” veteran J.D. Martinez said with a smile after the Mets’ 12-6 win in Game 5. “This is how we do things.”
New York is looking to become the ninth postseason team to win Games 6 and 7 on the road — and recent history is on its side: Just last season, the sixth-seeded Arizona Diamondbacks went to the World Series after beating the Phillies twice at Citizens Bank Park.
It can be done. Will it happen is another question. Here are three reasons Mets players believe they can — and will — pull it off.
1. Their starting pitching has ‘carried us all year’
The Mets will have Sean Manaea starting on full rest in Game 6, followed by Luis Severino if they make it to Game 7. Both have come up big this postseason, particularly Manaea. Meanwhile, the Dodgers have a bullpen game scheduled for Sunday, followed by a diminished Walker Buehler, who hasn’t won a game in October yet, in a potential finale. New York could also use Jose Quintana out of the pen in either game.
“You could make a case that one of the big reasons we’re here is because of our starting pitching and their ability to go deep in games,” Mets manager Carlos Mendoza said this week.
But Manaea, Severino and Quintana haven’t looked sharp in their starts against the Dodgers this series. Combined, they pitched a total of only 13 innings across Games 2, 3 and 4. It was the first sign of fatigue from them this month.
“We also have to understand where we’re at in the season and where they’re at physically,” Mendoza said, “They’re in territory now where nobody expected it.”
Then again, Flaherty seemed to hit a wall in his latest outing, and Buehler needed 90 pitches to get through four innings in Game 3. Both teams might be looking at some gassed pitchers.
All things being equal — workloads included — the Mets think their starting pitchers put them in a good position.
“You have to be able to rise to the occasion and do whatever is asked of you,” outfielder Brandon Nimmo said. “Those guys have done that. Everyone has seen how they’ve pitched. There is so much confidence there.
“It’s carried us all year.”
2. Their lineup ‘broke through the dam’
It’s hard to make a case that any offense can go toe-to-toe with the Dodgers, who scored 30 runs in the first four games of this series, while adding six more in a Game 5 defeat. Even without a healthy Freddie Freeman, Los Angeles has done plenty of damage. But so, too, have the Mets — especially recently.
The Mets view Game 4 as a turning point. They scored just twice in a blowout loss, but had 13 runners reach base. Then in Game 5, they launched a 14-hit attack and scored 12 runs.
“We’re capable of putting together games like this, especially when one through nine, we’re clicking, we’re not chasing,” Mendoza said.
That might be more than manager-speak. For one, the bottom of the Mets’ order is starting to do some damage. Catcher Francisco Alvarez, who has hit in the nine-hole each game this series, credits a conversation he had with Starling Marte as a confidence boost.
“He came to me and he told me, ‘Hey, be happy,'” Alvarez recalled. “‘Play your game. Don’t try to do too much.’ But the real thing from Marte is he doesn’t talk too much, and I feel like he talked to me from the heart, and I appreciate him doing that.”
Alvarez is four for his past five in the series, while Marte has gotten hot as well. Marte, who hit sixth in Game 5, has nine hits over the past four games after going 0-for-4 in Game 1. On Friday, the Mets’ lineup looked as lengthy as the Dodgers’.
“Preventing their starters from going deep in games and getting to their bullpen, that’s huge, especially over this marathon-type of a series,” Alonso said. “And as an offense, that doesn’t happen if you don’t have quality at-bats. We’re having them now.”
Nimmo said: “We broke through the dam.”
3. They have ‘storybook-type stuff’
The “Meme Team,” as some like to call the Mets, doesn’t mind the corny nature of looking to Grimace or a lucky pumpkin for inspiration. It works for them. Some teams give off a buttoned-up attitude when they come to work, while others go with the flow. New York fits firmly in the latter category.
“We’re a frickin’ zoo in here,” Martinez said. “Would we be the Mets if we weren’t?”
No one epitomizes that fun — and belief — more than Alonso. The longtime Met might be in his final days with the team — he’s a free agent after this season — but he won’t let that distract him. In fact, it has kept him grounded and motivated, looking to keep this dream season going for as long as possible.
“This is what we all live for and play for,” Alonso said. “This is such a blast. And I think all of us — we’re just relishing in the moment and we’re looking to capitalize on opportunities.
“It’s storybook-type stuff.”
Alonso arrived in Los Angeles with the team’s Playoff Pumpkin intact, which the slugger seems more intent to talk about than his game-changing home runs this postseason. It’s managed with special care.
“White-glove service,” Alonso told ESPN with a big smile. “The pumpkin is taken care of almost as well as the Stanley Cup.”
Alonso keeps the pumpkin in his luggage, but carefully transports it from plane to hotel, from hotel to bus, from bus to clubhouse.
“On the road I’ve taken it back to the hotel because I don’t want any clubbies or anybody messing with it,” Alonso explained. “It’s kept safe every day.”
Pumpkins, mascots and “OMG” signs won’t be in the batter’s box when the first pitch is thrown in Game 6. But for the Mets, these things are part of who they are. Playing like this, with an unwavering spirit even with their season nearly always on the line, creates a winning atmosphere. Ahead of two win-or-go-home games, New York is banking on it.
“It’s something you learn by being here for a while,” Nimmo said. “You learn to not panic. If any team can do it, we can. We’ve played with our backs against the wall all year. We’ve risen to the occasion. Some might say we’re at our best in this time.”
There are some who saw what the Carolina Hurricanes did at the trade deadline — or perhaps failed to do after they traded Mikko Rantanen — and believe they’re cooked when it comes to the Stanley Cup playoffs. However, based on the projections from Stathletes, the Canes remain the team with the highest chances of winning the Cup, at 16.7%.
Standing before them on Sunday are the Winnipeg Jets (5 p.m. ET, ESPN+). The Jets had a relatively quiet deadline, adding Luke Schenn and Brandon Tanev, though sometimes these additions are the types of small tweaks that can push a contender over the edge. As it stands, the Jets enter their showdown against the Canes with the sixth-highest Cup chances, at 8.7%.
Carolina has made two trips to the Cup Final: a loss to the Detroit Red Wings in 2002 and a win over the Edmonton Oilers in 2006. The Canes have reached the conference finals three times since (2009, 2019, 2023). Winnipeg has yet to make the Cup Final, and was defeated 4-1 in the 2018 Western Conference finals by the Vegas Golden Knights in the club’s lone trip to the penultimate stage.
Both clubs are due. Will this be their year?
There is a lot of runway left until the final day of the season on April 17, and we’ll help you keep track of it all here on the NHL playoff watch. As we traverse the final stretch, we’ll provide detail on all the playoff races — along with the teams jockeying for position in the 2025 NHL draft lottery.
Note: Playoff chances are via Stathletes.
Jump ahead:
Current playoff matchups
Saturday’s schedule
Friday’s scores
Expanded standings
Race for No. 1 pick
Current playoff matchups
Eastern Conference
A1 Florida Panthers vs. WC1 Ottawa Senators
A2 Toronto Maple Leafs vs. A3 Tampa Bay Lightning
M1 Washington Capitals vs. WC2 Columbus Blue Jackets
M2 Carolina Hurricanes vs. M3 New Jersey Devils
Western Conference
C1 Winnipeg Jets vs. WC2 Calgary Flames
C2 Dallas Stars vs. C3 Colorado Avalanche
P1 Vegas Golden Knights vs. WC1 Minnesota Wild
P2 Edmonton Oilers vs. P3 Los Angeles Kings
Sunday’s games
Note: All times ET. All games not on TNT or NHL Network are available to stream on ESPN+ (local blackout restrictions apply).
New Jersey Devils at Philadelphia Flyers, 1 p.m. (TNT)
Seattle Kraken at Washington Capitals, 3:30 p.m.
Pittsburgh Penguins at Minnesota Wild, 3:30 p.m. (TNT)
Winnipeg Jets at Carolina Hurricanes, 5 p.m.
Columbus Blue Jackets at New York Rangers, 6 p.m.
Los Angeles Kings at Vegas Golden Knights, 8 p.m.
Dallas Stars at Vancouver Canucks, 9 p.m.
New York Islanders at Anaheim Ducks, 9 p.m.
Saturday’s scoreboard
Ottawa Senators 4, New York Rangers 3 (OT)
Seattle Kraken 4, Philadelphia Flyers 1
Boston Bruins 4, Tampa Bay Lightning 0
Florida Panthers 4, Buffalo Sabres 0
Colorado Avalanche 7, Toronto Maple Leafs 4
Calgary Flames 1, Montreal Canadiens 0
Nashville Predators 3, Chicago Blackhawks 2 (OT)
Los Angeles Kings 2, St. Louis Blues 1 (OT)
Edmonton Oilers 5, Dallas Stars 4
New York Islanders 4, San Jose Sharks 2
Expanded standings
Atlantic Division
Points: 83
Regulation wins: 34
Playoff position: A1
Games left: 18
Points pace: 106.3
Next game: @ BOS (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: 99.9%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 79
Regulation wins: 31
Playoff position: A2
Games left: 19
Points pace: 102.8
Next game: @ UTA (Monday)
Playoff chances: 99.9%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 78
Regulation wins: 32
Playoff position: A3
Games left: 19
Points pace: 101.5
Next game: @ CAR (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: 99.9%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 69
Regulation wins: 23
Playoff position: WC1
Games left: 20
Points pace: 91.3
Next game: vs. DET (Monday)
Playoff chances: 85.4%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 66
Regulation wins: 22
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 19
Points pace: 85.9
Next game: @ OTT (Monday)
Playoff chances: 8.3%
Tragic number: 37
Points: 66
Regulation wins: 21
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 19
Points pace: 85.9
Next game: @ VAN (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: 19.8%
Tragic number: 37
Points: 66
Regulation wins: 22
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 17
Points pace: 83.3
Next game: vs. FLA (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: 2.5%
Tragic number: 33
Points: 54
Regulation wins: 20
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 20
Points pace: 71.4
Next game: vs. EDM (Monday)
Playoff chances: 0.1%
Tragic number: 27
Metro Division
Points: 90
Regulation wins: 34
Playoff position: M1
Games left: 19
Points pace: 117.1
Next game: vs. SEA (Sunday)
Playoff chances: 99.9%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 78
Regulation wins: 32
Playoff position: M2
Games left: 19
Points pace: 101.5
Next game: vs. WPG (Sunday)
Playoff chances: 99.9%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 72
Regulation wins: 29
Playoff position: M3
Games left: 18
Points pace: 92.3
Next game: @ PHI (Sunday)
Playoff chances: 86.5%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 68
Regulation wins: 22
Playoff position: WC2
Games left: 20
Points pace: 89.9
Next game: @ NYR (Sunday)
Playoff chances: 27.1%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 68
Regulation wins: 29
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 19
Points pace: 88.5
Next game: vs. CBJ (Sunday)
Playoff chances: 31.1%
Tragic number: 39
Points: 65
Regulation wins: 23
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 20
Points pace: 86.0
Next game: @ LA (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: 29.7%
Tragic number: 38
Points: 62
Regulation wins: 17
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 18
Points pace: 79.4
Next game: vs. NJ (Sunday)
Playoff chances: 9.5%
Tragic number: 31
Points: 58
Regulation wins: 16
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 17
Points pace: 73.1
Next game: @ MIN (Sunday)
Playoff chances: 0.1%
Tragic number: 25
Central Division
Points: 92
Regulation wins: 36
Playoff position: C1
Games left: 18
Points pace: 117.9
Next game: @ CAR (Sunday)
Playoff chances: 99.9%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 84
Regulation wins: 34
Playoff position: C2
Games left: 19
Points pace: 109.3
Next game: @ VAN (Sunday)
Playoff chances: 99.9%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 78
Regulation wins: 33
Playoff position: C3
Games left: 18
Points pace: 99.9
Next game: vs. CHI (Monday)
Playoff chances: 99.6%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 76
Regulation wins: 29
Playoff position: WC1
Games left: 19
Points pace: 98.9
Next game: vs. PIT (Sunday)
Playoff chances: 94.4%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 69
Regulation wins: 22
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 17
Points pace: 87.1
Next game: @ PIT (Thursday)
Playoff chances: 37.2%
Tragic number: 34
Points: 66
Regulation wins: 20
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 19
Points pace: 85.9
Next game: vs. TOR (Monday)
Playoff chances: 26.4%
Tragic number: 35
Points: 55
Regulation wins: 20
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 19
Points pace: 71.6
Next game: @ SJ (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: 0.1%
Tragic number: 24
Points: 49
Regulation wins: 17
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 18
Points pace: 62.8
Next game: @ COL (Monday)
Playoff chances: ~0%
Tragic number: 16
Pacific Division
Points: 82
Regulation wins: 35
Playoff position: P1
Games left: 20
Points pace: 108.5
Next game: vs. LA (Sunday)
Playoff chances: 99.9%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 78
Regulation wins: 27
Playoff position: P2
Games left: 19
Points pace: 101.5
Next game: @ BUF (Monday)
Playoff chances: 99.7%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 73
Regulation wins: 28
Playoff position: P3
Games left: 21
Points pace: 98.1
Next game: @ VGK (Sunday)
Playoff chances: 84.1%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 70
Regulation wins: 24
Playoff position: WC2
Games left: 19
Points pace: 91.1
Next game: vs. VAN (Wednesday)
Playoff chances: 27.5%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 69
Regulation wins: 23
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 20
Points pace: 91.3
Next game: vs. DAL (Sunday)
Playoff chances: 30.9%
Tragic number: 40
Points: 61
Regulation wins: 19
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 20
Points pace: 80.7
Next game: vs. NYI (Sunday)
Playoff chances: 0.1%
Tragic number: 32
Points: 58
Regulation wins: 22
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 18
Points pace: 74.3
Next game: @ WSH (Sunday)
Playoff chances: ~0%
Tragic number: 25
Points: 43
Regulation wins: 12
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 17
Points pace: 54.3
Next game: vs. NSH (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: ~0%
Tragic number: 8
Race for the No. 1 pick
The NHL uses a draft lottery to determine the order of the first round, so the team that finishes in last place is not guaranteed the No. 1 selection. As of 2021, a team can move up a maximum of 10 spots if it wins the lottery, so only 11 teams are eligible for the draw for the No. 1 pick. Full details on the process can be found here. Sitting No. 1 on the draft board for this summer is Matthew Schaefer, a defenseman for the OHL’s Erie Otters.
Points: 43
Regulation wins: 12
Points: 49
Regulation wins: 17
Points: 54
Regulation wins: 20
Points: 55
Regulation wins: 20
Points: 58
Regulation wins: 16
Points: 58
Regulation wins: 22
Points: 61
Regulation wins: 19
Points: 62
Regulation wins: 17
Points: 65
Regulation wins: 23
Points: 66
Regulation wins: 20
Points: 66
Regulation wins: 21
Points: 66
Regulation wins: 22
Points: 66
Regulation wins: 22
Points: 68
Regulation wins: 29
Points: 69
Regulation wins: 22
Points: 69
Regulation wins: 23
EDMONTON, Alberta — Dallas Stars forward Roope Hintz was hit by a puck shot by Edmonton Oilers center Adam Henrique and left the ice with a towel pressed against his bloody face Saturday night.
Hintz extended his stick toward Henrique, whose wrist shot sent the puck under Hintz’s visor during his club’s 5-4 loss to the Oilers. He was on the ice, with his face in a towel, as the team’s medical staff assessed him and helped him skate toward the dressing room.
After the loss, Dallas coach Peter DeBoer said Hintz was at a local hospital, receiving tests. The coach added that the initial report was fairly optimistic for Hintz, 28, who has 25 goals and 52 points.
“Everyone’s optimistic that it’s not ‘serious, serious,'” DeBoer said. “But we won’t know until we get testing.”
The short-handed Stars rallied from a 5-1 deficit before eventually losing. Trade deadline acquisition Mikko Rantanen had a goal and an assist in his debut for Dallas, which had its four-game winning streak stopped. Wyatt Johnston, Jamie Benn and Matt Dumba also scored for the Stars.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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