Mets vs. Dodgers: NLCS matchups, predictions and preview

The Dodgers had MLB’s best record this season and won a five-game NLDS against an impressive Padres team, but no team has been hotter for longer than the Mets.

The franchises will meet in the playoffs for the fourth time after the Dodgers won in the 1988 NLCS and the Mets turned the tables in the NLDS in 2006 and 2015. 

The Post’s Dan Martin takes a look at how the teams match up heading into Game 1 in Los Angeles on Sunday night. 

At the plate 

Getting on base 

The Dodgers had the league’s top offense and a relentless lineup during the regular season, with Shohei Ohtani at the top and Freddie Freeman, Mookie Betts and Teoscar Hernandez also difficult to get out.

But the Mets’ lineup has flourished in October, sparked by Mark Vientos, Pete Alonso and Francisco Lindor.

Though Starling Marte showed flashes of his old self late in the regular season and in the wild-card series, he’s coming off a disappointing NLDS in which he went 1-for-11. 

Edge: Dodgers 

Power 

Ohtani’s first postseason series of his storied career didn’t feature any iconic moments. It’s hard to imagine that won’t change moving forward.

Freeman returned from the ankle sprain he suffered during the final week of the regular season, but his power was mostly absent in the NLDS, and he missed Game 4 of the series due to the injury.

Ohtani, Betts and Hernandez could help make up for this.

Alonso has rediscovered his home run swing, and Vientos has been a playoff revelation after doing the same thing in the regular season.

And no postseason series would be complete for the Mets without a memorable homer from either Alonso or Lindor, who has shaken off his September back injury and helped save their season.

The lefty/righty DH combination of Jesse Winker and J.D. Martinez might be expected to provide some power, but though Winker has delivered, Martinez hasn’t gone deep since Aug. 30. Francisco Alvarez hasn’t shown up much in his first playoff experience. 

Edge: Dodgers 

In the field 

Infield 

With Freeman hobbled by his ankle, Gavin Lux shaky at second and the left side of the Dodgers infield potentially upended by a groin injury to Miguel Rojas, they’ve gone to Tommy Edman — normally an outfielder — at short, and longtime October standout Kiké Hernandez at third.

There could be some issues going forward.

Even when healthy, the Mets infield defense can be adventurous, with Vientos at third and Alonso at first.

Lindor, though, has been a stabilizing force in the middle of the infield. 

Edge: Dodgers 

Outfield 

Injuries may impact how the Dodgers make up their outfield, but regardless, Hernandez is bad in left, just like Marte is in right for the Mets. 

Edge: Even 

On the basepaths 

Ohtani is coming off the league’s first 50-50 season, but he didn’t swipe any bases against San Diego. Edman for the Dodgers and Harrison Bader for the Mets have some base-stealing ability, as does Marte, when he’s feeling right. 

Edge: Even 

Bench 

If Jeff McNeil is back on the roster after missing more than a month with a fractured wrist, he could be used both in the infield and outfield.

His return might impact whether Luisangel Acuña is on the roster.

Bader and his glove could be used to protect a lead in center, as could Tyrone Taylor — if he’s not in the lineup.

And Winker, when he’s not starting at DH, is a valuable left-handed bat.

Outfielders Andy Pages and Chris Taylor didn’t get much time for the Dodgers. 

Edge: Mets 

On the mound 

Rotation 

Among the many aspects of this series that would have been hard to believe heading into the season is the fact the Mets enter with a deeper and more stable rotation — with Sean Manaea, Luis Severino and Jose Quintana all healthy and pitching well, and Kodai Senga ready to contribute at least a few innings after missing nearly the entire season with shoulder and calf issues.

Meanwhile, the supposedly pitching-rich Dodgers have Yoshinobu Yamamoto — who was terrific in the Game 5 clincher — Jack Flaherty and a shell-of-himself Walker Buehler, and had to rely on a bullpen game in a Game 4 shutout victory. 

Edge: Mets 

Bullpen 

Over three postseason games, Edwin Diaz has walked five batters and allowed multiple baserunners in each appearance. If that continues, the Mets are in trouble.

Trade deadline pickup Phil Maton has looked awful. On the positive side, the pen has been helped by lefty David Peterson’s move to relief, and Ryne Stanek and Reed Garrett have been lights out.

The Dodgers wouldn’t have advanced without their pen — with key contributions by Michael Kopech, Ryan Brasier, Daniel Hudson, Evan Phillips and Blake Treinen, as well as lefties Alex Vesia and Anthony Banda. Vesia, however, was forced from Game 5 with a back injury, and his status is unclear. 

Edge: Dodgers 

Manager 

Follow The Post’s coverage of the Mets in the postseason:

• Mets decide on their NLCS Game 1 starter
• Mets learn their NLCS foe after Dodgers-Padres battle in do-or-die Game 5
• Veteran Met’s potential return comes with big roster question
• Heyman: California dreamin’! Gutsy Mets in prime position to knock off star-studded Dodgers

Dave Roberts, who has been the to the postseason in each of his nine seasons managing the Dodgers, got L.A. back to the NLCS for the first time since 2021, with the team looking for its first World Series appearance since 2020.

Armed with a huge payroll — and a historic season from Ohtani — anything less would be a failure, and Roberts figured out how to beat the Padres with a beaten-up rotation.

Carlos Mendoza’s dream first season at the helm now includes a late-season surge to the playoffs and two postseason series wins.

He’s got his team playing its best at the most important time of the year, and though Roberts has the more impressive résumé, Mendoza seems to have the Midas touch right now. 

Edge: Mets 

Intangibles 

Two of the highest-priced teams in the National League were expected to meet in the NLCS at some point in the future, but the Mets got here sooner than anticipated.

They are playing with house money, while the Dodgers still face enormous pressure to get back to the World Series.

Their only title since 1988 came in the COVID-shortened 2020 season. 

Edge: Mets

Series predictions

Jon Heyman

Mets in 7

Both teams have mojo and momentum, but the Mets are a little deeper in the rotation now. 

Dan Martin

Dodgers in 6 

It’s been a memorable postseason run for the Mets, who have been playing playoff baseball for essentially a month. The Dodgers, though, will prove to be too much. 

Mike Puma

Dodgers in 7

It’s been a magical Mets run, but this loaded Dodgers lineup and bullpen will be too much for Carlos Mendoza’s crew to handle. 

Mark W. Sanchez

Mets in 6

The Dodgers are nearly out of pitchers and might be out of gas after an emotional NLDS win. 

Joel Sherman

Dodgers in 7

This is basically a prediction based on bullpens and feeling like the Dodgers will do more damage against the Mets group than vice versa. 

Mike Vaccaro

Dodgers in 7

Forget the narratives focusing on magic, the Mets are here on merit.

And if they can steal one of the first two games in LA, the Dodgers might never make it out of Citi Field. But the Dodgers didn’t secure baseball’s best record in a lottery. And they’re far stouter than the Phillies.