The New York Mets forced the Los Angeles Dodgers to at least a bit of revenge at home more than a week ago, and resumed another duel between the teams this week.
The Dodgers now play host to the Mets a four-game series from Monday, following their series victory in a World Series rematch with the New York Yankees.
Los Angeles went past the Mets in last season’s six-game National League Championship Series and advanced to that World Series. When the team met again on May 23-25, it was the Mets who took two of three that the Dodgers scored a total of three runs in two losses.
These two victories over the Dodgers launched the Mets with a seven-win run in eight games, including a three-game sweep for the Colorado Rockies.
In Sunday’s 5-3 victory in Colorado, Mets’ Slugger Pete Alonso, Francis Colindoor and Juan Soto all hit home runs. Soto has home runs in back-to-back games, but only two in his final 19 contest when he hit .162.
The Mets will send right-handed Paul Blackburn to the mound at Monday’s series opener, making their 2025 debut after recovering from countless illnesses.
Blackburn, who was acquired from track and field at a trade deadline last season, started five times in New York before his hands, and his spine injury ended the season. He left with a knee injury during spring training and an illness that interrupted his rehabilitation.
“It feels good,” said Blackburn, 31, of his scheduled return, according to MLB.com.
“The last 10 months have been (challenge) mentally, but I can only get through it and get where I am… that was fun.”
All eight major league seasons, California natives have never faced the Dodgers.
The Dodgers are planning to send right-handed Dustin May (3-4, 4.20 ERA) to the mound. May was the first consecutive start since returning from Tommy John’s surgery on April 1st. He hit a season-high nine times on Tuesday in a 9-5 victory over the hosts Cleveland Guardians.
Two career appearances against the Mets (one start) will not make a 6.75 ERA decision in May in 6 2/3 innings.
Following an 8-5 and 18-2 victory with the Yankees, the Dodgers made a 7-3 decision on Sunday, scoring home runs from Tommy Edman, Andy Page and Max Muncy.
After he went 13-2 on home runs in a recent series with the Mets, Los Angeles’ Shohei Ohtani has four home runs in six games. He finished with 15 home runs in May, but in June it was 0-4 with strikeouts.
The Dodgers are waiting for the return of All-Star Mookie Betts, who missed the weekend series with a fracture at the tip of his left toe. A trip to the injury list is not expected for the shortstop/outfielder who has hit .207 in his last 15 games this season.
“I’m never frustrated. It’s all part of life and it’s part of that,” Betts said of missing out on three previous games. “You have to do bad things. I’m not frustrated. I don’t even call it a barrier. That’s exactly anything.”
– Field-level media
