For the first time since 2015, the Mets are going to the NLCS.
New York secured its spot in the National League Championship Series with a Game 4 win over Philadelphia on Wednesday night. The Mets defeated the Phillies, 4-1, thanks to a grand slam by star shortstop Francisco Lindor, knocking off their NL East rivals in four games in the best-of-five series.
In June, the Mets were one of the worst teams in baseball, falling 11 games under .500 and were at risk of letting the season slip away. However, a strong second half helped New York secure a spot in the postseason, finishing as the No. 5 seed in the NL.
Pete Alonso propelled the Mets to the NLDS by stunning the Brewers in Game 3 of the wild-card round, setting up the divisional matchup with the Phillies. After splitting the first two games, New York took the next two contests in Queens, moving even closer to a shot at the World Series.
But who is up next for the Mets? The Sporting News explains New York’s opponent for the NLCS.
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Who do Mets play next?
With the Mets winning Game 4 on Wednesday night, they advance to the ALCS. Now, the waiting begins.
New York has to bide its time before finding out its opponent for the next round. The Mets will take on the winner of the Padres-Dodgers series with a trip to the World Series on the line.
San Diego is up 2-1 in the series and can clinch their placement in the NLCS with a win later Wednesday night. Los Angeles is hoping to avoid elimination and force a winner-take-all Game 5 on Friday, Oct. 11.
The Mets went 2-4 against the Dodgers during the regular season. Los Angeles posted a record of 98-64, winning the NL West for the third year in a row and 11th time in the last 12 years.
Against the Padres, the Mets enjoyed a lot more success. New York faced San Diego seven times, going 5-2 against the NL West members. The Padres earned the first wild-card spot in the NL with a record of 93-69.
MORE: How Jose Iglesias started New York’s ‘OMG’ rallying cry for 2024 playoffs
When does the NLCS start?
No matter when all of the NLDS series wrap up, Game 1 of the NLCS will take place Sunday, Oct. 13.
Since the Mets needed just four games to knock off the Phillies, New York gets three days off before the next round begins, allowing Carlos Mendoza the option to rest his bullpen and reset his starting rotation.
MLB playoff schedule, results 2024
Wild Card Series scores
Tuesday, Oct. 1
| Scores |
| Game 1: Tigers 3, Astros 1 |
| Game 1: Royals 1, Orioles 0 |
| Game 1: Mets 8, Brewers 4 |
| Game 1: Padres 4, Braves 0 |
Wednesday, Oct. 2
| Scores |
| Game 2: Tigers 5, Astros 2 (Tigers advance) |
| Game 2: Royals 2, Orioles 1 (Royals advance) |
| Game 2: Brewers 5, Mets 3 |
| Game 2: Padres 5, Braves 4 (Padres advance) |
Thursday, Oct. 3
| Scores |
| Game 3: Mets 4, Brewers 2 (Mets advance) |
MORE: Sporting News predicts the 2024 MLB postseason
Division Series schedule, scores
Saturday, Oct. 5
| Scores |
| Game 1: Guardians 7, Tigers 0 |
| Game 1: Mets 6, Phillies 2 |
| Game 1: Yankees 6, Royals 5 |
| Game 1: Dodgers 7, Padres 5 |
Sunday, Oct. 6
| Scores |
| Game 2: Phillies 7, Mets 6 |
| Game 2: Padres 10, Dodgers 2 |
Monday, Oct. 7
| Scores |
| Game 2: Tigers 3, Guardians 0 |
| Game 2: Royals 4, Yankees 2 |
Tuesday, Oct. 8
| Scores |
| Game 3: Mets 7, Phillies 2 |
| Game 3: Padres 6, Dodgers 5 |
Wednesday, Oct. 9
| Game |
Time (ET) |
TV/Live stream |
| Game 3: Tigers 3, Guardians 0 |
— |
— |
| Game 4: Mets 4, Phillies 1 |
— |
— |
| Game 3: Royals vs. Yankees |
7:08 p.m. |
TBS, truTV, Sling |
| Game 4: Padres vs. Dodgers |
9:08 p.m. |
FS1, Fubo |
Thursday, Oct. 10
| Game |
Time (ET) |
TV/Live stream |
| Game 4: Tigers vs. Guardians |
6:08 p.m. |
TNT, Sling |
| Game 4: Royals vs. Yankees |
8:08 p.m. |
TBS, truTV, Sling |
Friday, Oct. 11
| Game |
Time (ET) |
TV/Live stream |
| Game 5*: Phillies vs. Mets |
4:08 p.m. |
FS1, Fubo |
| Game 5*: Dodgers vs. Padres |
8:08 p.m. |
Fox, Fubo |
* – if necessary
Note: If there is only one game, it will start at 8:08 p.m. ET on Fox
Saturday, Oct. 12
| Game |
Time (ET) |
TV/Live stream |
| Game 5*: Guardians vs. Tigers |
4:38 p.m. |
TBS, Sling |
| Game 5*: Yankees vs. Royals |
8:08 p.m. |
TBS, Sling |
* – if necessary
Note: If there is only one game, it will start at 8:08 p.m. ET on TBS
League Championship Series schedule
Sunday, Oct. 13
| Game |
Time (ET) |
TV/Live stream |
| Game 1: Mets vs. Phillies/Padres |
TBD |
Fox/FS1, Fubo |
Monday, Oct. 14
| Game |
Time (ET) |
TV/Live stream |
| Game 1: Yankees/Royals vs. Guardians/Tigers |
TBD |
TBS, truTV, Sling |
| Game 2: Mets vs. Phillies/Padres |
TBD |
Fox/FS1, Fubo |
Tuesday, Oct. 15
| Game |
Time (ET) |
TV/Live stream |
| Game 2: Yankees/Royals vs. Guardians/Tigers |
TBD |
TBS, truTV, Sling |
Wednesday, Oct. 16
| Game |
Time (ET) |
TV/Live stream |
| Game 3: Mets vs. Phillies/Padres |
TBD |
Fox/FS1, Fubo |
Thursday, Oct. 17
| Game |
Time (ET) |
TV/Live stream |
| Game 3: Yankees/Royals vs. Guardians/Tigers |
TBD |
TBS, truTV, Sling |
| Game 4: Mets vs. Phillies/Padres |
TBD |
Fox/FS1, Fubo |
Friday, Oct. 18
| Game |
Time (ET) |
TV/Live stream |
| Game 4: Yankees/Royals vs. Guardians/Tigers |
TBD |
TBS, truTV, Sling |
| Game 5*: Mets vs. Phillies/Padres |
TBD |
Fox/FS1, Fubo |
* – if necessary
Saturday, Oct. 19
| Game |
Time (ET) |
TV/Live stream |
| Game 5*: Yankees/Royals vs. Guardians/Tigers |
TBD |
TBS, truTV, Sling |
* – if necessary
Sunday, Oct. 20
| Game |
Time (ET) |
TV/Live stream |
| Game 6*: Mets vs. Phillies/Padres |
TBD |
Fox/FS1, Fubo |
* – if necessary
Monday, Oct. 21
| Game |
Time (ET) |
TV/Live stream |
| Game 6*: Yankees/Royals vs. Guardians/Tigers |
TBD |
TBS, truTV, Sling |
| Game 7*: Mets vs. Phillies/Padres |
TBD |
Fox/FS1, Fubo |
* – if necessary
Tuesday, Oct. 22
| Game |
Time (ET) |
TV/Live stream |
| Game 7*: Yankees/Royals vs. Guardians/Tigers |
TBD |
TBS, truTV, Sling |
* – if necessary
World Series schedule
The World Series could move up to an earlier start if both LCS finish by Oct. 19. If that happens, the World Series will begin Oct. 22 with a potential Game 7 set for Oct. 30.
Friday, Oct. 25
| Game |
Time (ET) |
TV/Live stream |
| Game 1: AL vs. NL (at better record) |
TBD |
Fox, Fubo |
Saturday, Oct. 26
| Game |
Time (ET) |
TV/Live stream |
| Game 2: AL vs. NL |
TBD |
Fox, Fubo |
Monday, Oct. 28
| Game |
Time (ET) |
TV/Live stream |
| Game 3: AL vs. NL |
TBD |
Fox, Fubo |
Tuesday, Oct. 29
| Game |
Time (ET) |
TV/Live stream |
| Game 4: AL vs. NL |
TBD |
Fox, Fubo |
Wednesday, Oct. 30
| Game |
Time (ET) |
TV/Live stream |
| Game 5*: AL vs. NL |
TBD |
Fox, Fubo |
* – if necessary
Friday, Nov. 1
| Game |
Time (ET) |
TV/Live stream |
| Game 6*: AL vs. NL |
TBD |
Fox, Fubo |
* – if necessary
Saturday, Nov. 2
| Game |
Time (ET) |
TV/Live stream |
| Game 7*: AL vs. NL |
TBD |
Fox, Fubo |
* – if necessary
Source
