Dodgers' Mookie Betts doesn't overlook Mets: 'They didn't get here by luck'

The Los Angeles Dodgers appeared to be clear favorites to advance to the World Series against the New York Mets after a stunning 9-0 win in Game 1 of the National League Championship Series. In Game 1, the Mets' lineup looked lifeless as Jack Flaherty pitched a shutout over seven innings while the Dodgers' lineup scored nine runs over the course of the game. Then Game 2 happened. In the second game the following day, the Mets defeated Los Angeles 7-3 to even the series at 1-1.

The Mets had the game in hand from the start after Francisco Lindor hit a leadoff home run in the first at-bat of the game. The Mets later took a 6-0 lead thanks to a grand slam hit from Mark Vientos. The Dodgers bullpen couldn't come close to the shutout it posted in Game 4 of the NL Division Series against the San Diego Padres, instead allowing seven runs.

After their loss in Game 2, Dodgers outfielder Mookie Betts made it clear that the Dodgers were not overlooking the Mets as the series progressed.

“Nobody has gone 11-0 in the postseason,” Betts said, via Bill Plunkett of the OC Register. “All the teams, there’s four teams left, they’re all good and you’re not just going to mess everyone up in the postseason. I’ve never seen it before and I imagine you’ll never see anyone else do something like that.”

Betts added: “You expect it to be a long series. They are good. They're not a bad baseball team. You didn't get here by accident. It will be a dogfight. I will give them credit. They are a good baseball team. But so are we. It's going to be a long series. We expect it to be a long, tough series.”

The Dodgers may be the better team on paper, but the Mets have overcome the odds throughout the season. After going 22-33 at the start of the season, the Mets went 67-40 from that point on, securing a spot in the playoffs. The Mets defeated the Milwaukee Brewers and Philadelphia Phillies in the first two rounds of the playoffs and could pose a threat to the Dodgers if Los Angeles fades.

Photo credit: Isaiah J. Downing-Imagn Images

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