Mets aim for a historic turnaround after trailing Dodgers 3-1 in the NLCS

NEW YORK — The New York Mets are holding onto the hope that their biggest comeback of the 2024 season is still ahead of them.


Brandon Nimmo expressed optimism after the team faced a 3-1 deficit in the National League Championship Series following a disappointing 10-2 loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers. “If we come back from this, then it’s going to be a heck of a story. We’re going to be adding to that whole Grimace, OMG stuff,” he stated.


Earlier in the season, the Mets found themselves in a difficult position, sitting six games out of wild-card contention with a record of 22-33. However, they managed to claw their way into the playoffs. Their journey included a dramatic escape from elimination in the Wild Card Series against Milwaukee, where Pete Alonso hit a three-run home run with just two outs remaining.


In the Division Series, they made a notable comeback, scoring five runs in the eighth inning of the opener against Philadelphia, followed by Francisco Lindor’s grand slam in Game 4, which secured their advancement past the Phillies.


“The experience has taught us a lot about our character and our identity as a team,” Alonso remarked. “We are incredibly resilient; we’ve had to respond to challenges all year long. The 2024 Mets embody that resiliency.”


With aspirations of reaching the World Series for the first time since 2015 and winning the championship for the first time since 1986, the Mets have faced significant challenges against the Dodgers, being outscored 30-9 throughout the series. Mets pitchers have walked 31 batters, while the team has struggled offensively, hitting just 4 for 29 with runners in scoring positions, including an 0 for 11 performance in their last two losses.


Alonso is currently batting .133 (2 for 15) with no runs batted in, Nimmo is at .200 (3 for 15) with one RBI, and Lindor is hitting .250 (4 for 16) with one RBI.


Lindor emphasized the importance of belief in the team’s potential: “If you have no belief, you shouldn’t be here. You have to believe and fight for what you want.”


David Peterson is set to make his first start since September 29, after appearing in six relief outings during the playoffs. “I feel ready to go as deep as necessary,” he said, looking forward to the challenge ahead.


Manager Carlos Mendoza opted not to give a motivational speech after the game, choosing to keep his thoughts for the following day. “I’ll go in the same way I’ve been doing all year. I’ll pop by the hitters’ or pitchers’ meetings in small settings, but I definitely will say something,” he noted.


The Dodgers overcame a similar 3-1 NLCS deficit in 2020 and went on to capture the World Series title. The Mets are fully aware of the uphill battle but remain emboldened by their ability to overcome adversity throughout the season.


“We have history with these situations, so this isn’t new to us,” Nimmo said. “We can absolutely do it; this team is very capable. It requires all of us working together, and we simply need some favorable breaks to go our way.”


As for Alonso, who is eligible for free agency after the World Series, he remains focused solely on the game without considering the possibility of it being his last with the Mets. “I’m solely concentrated on winning for this team. This group is special, and it’s been a fantastic journey this year. We’ve achieved a lot, but this upcoming challenge is significant, and I’m eager to battle alongside my teammates,” he conveyed.