LOS ANGELES -- Clayton Kershaw isn't sure what to expect from the new-look Mets, whose dramatic transformation in the second half of the season led to an NL East title.
The Los Angeles Dodgers ace faced a mostly different New York lineup before the July trade deadline. Even veteran Mets infielder David Wright was out at the time.
NATIONAL LEAGUE DIVISION SERIES
New York Mets at Los Angeles Dodgers
8:45 p.m. Central today, TBS
MATCHUPS
The series is loaded with exceptional starting pitching. Zack Greinke, Clayton Kershaw, Jacob deGrom and Matt Harvey all ranked among the top six National League qualifiers in ERA. … David Wright and the Mets swept the Dodgers 3-0 in their 2006 division series before losing Game 7 of the NLCS to St. Louis. New York had not been back to the playoffs since. … The underdog Dodgers stunned the Mets in a seven-game NLCS in 1988 on the way to their most recent World Series championship. Los Angeles has not won a pennant since. … A five-game losing streak during the final week of the season cost the Mets home-field advantage in the series. That could prove critical, because the Dodgers went 55-26 at home and 37-44 on the road. New York was 49-32 at Citi Field and 41-40 away from home. But the Mets played much better on the road during the final three months of the season and finished 7-14 at home.
BIG PICTURE
METS After six consecutive losing seasons, the Mets finally turned it around. The NL East champions rebuilt around prized young pitchers such as Harvey, deGrom, Syndergaard and Jeurys Familia — the arms that kept New York within striking distance this season until the front office completely transformed an anemic offense in late July. On the same day Michael Conforto was called up directly from Class AA, Juan Uribe and Kelly Johnson were acquired from Atlanta in a deal that added much-needed depth. A week later, Yoenis Cespedes was obtained at the July 31 trade deadline and d’Arnaud came off the disabled list. Wilmer Flores hit a game-winning home run against Washington, two nights after tearing up on the field when he thought he’d been traded. That made him an instant fan favorite, and the Mets took off. Michael Cuddyer and Wright returned from injuries in August, and suddenly New York had a potent lineup to go with all that pitching. One of the worst offenses in the majors became one of the very best from July 25 on. Two pivotal sweeps of Washington helped the Mets overtake the heavily favored Nationals in the NL East.
DODGERS Los Angeles reached the postseason for the third consecutive year, a first for the storied franchise. The Dodgers have won three consecutive NL West titles and they surpassed 90 victories for the third season in a row, a feat the club had accomplished only twice before. … The team’s.679 home winning percentage was the best in LA history. … Kershaw went 11-1 with a 1.22 ERA and 4 complete games (3 shutouts) in his final 17 starts. He became the first major league pitcher in 13 years to reach 300 strikeouts. … Greinke’s 1.66 ERA was the lowest in the majors since Atlanta ace Greg Maddux posted a 1.63 mark in 1995. … The Dodgers led the majors with 21 shutouts.
"There's a lot of guys that I'll be seeing for the first time this season," Kershaw said Thursday. "Definitely a completely different team. Obviously, a lot better than what we faced in July."
The Dodgers aren't the same team that got chased out of the division series by St. Louis a year ago. They shipped out Matt Kemp, Hanley Ramirez and Juan Uribe (now a Met), and ushered in veterans Jimmy Rollins, Howie Kendrick and Yasmani Grandal.
When Kershaw takes the mound for tonight's opener at Dodger Stadium, he'll be trying to earn just the second postseason victory of his career after going 0-4 in his last two series against the Cardinals.
"I definitely remember," he said, "but it's a new team, new season and, hopefully, for me a new outcome."
The Mets won four of seven meetings between the teams, all in that month before Yoenis Cespedes arrived from Detroit in a trade that boosted the Mets' anemic offense. They are in the playoffs for the first time in nine years; the Dodgers are making their third consecutive appearance for the first time in franchise history.
Kelly Johnson and Uribe joined the Mets shortly after Cespedes, acquisitions Manager Terry Collins credited for turning around the team along with the his message to the players: If you hit, you'll play.
"Lucas Duda took off, [Wilmer] Flores took off, Kelly Johnson and Juan kept playing, as well," Collins said. "All of a sudden guys are looking at their jobs saying, 'Oh my gosh, I've got to step up here, and they did.'"
Kershaw will be opposed by Jacob deGrom, last year's NL Rookie of the Year and a converted infielder who is making his playoffs debut. The right-hander isn't about to compare himself to Kershaw, last year's NL MVP and a three-time Cy Young Award winner, except in one area.
"The way he takes the mound, he goes out there and attacks hitters," deGrom said. "I try to do the same thing, not get intimidated by anybody who steps in the box and go out there and make your pitches when you need to."
Kershaw talked with deGrom at the All-Star Game in July, already aware of deGrom's explosive fastball.
"Just the carry and the ride that it has on it, the ball that looks like it's at your shins or ankles seems like he gets a lot of called strikes there," Kershaw said. "His off-speed pitches have gotten better from last year. We definitely have a challenge. This whole series, the three, four guys they're throwing at us are pretty solid."
The teams split the four regular-season games started by Kershaw and Zack Greinke, who will take the mound for the Dodgers in Game 2 on Saturday.
DeGrom's path to the majors took several twists and turns, starting with him becoming a pitcher in his junior year at Stetson University. He was drafted ninth by the Mets in 2010 and missed his first minor-league season the next year after undergoing Tommy John surgery. DeGrom didn't make it to the big leagues until last year.
"All of us are thankful every day we get to put this uniform on and we play this game," he said, "so try not to take any days for granted."
Already the oldest manager in the majors at 66, Collins is making his managerial playoff debut with the Mets after previous managing stints in Houston and with the Los Angeles Angels. He was director of playoff development for the Dodgers in 2006 when they drafted Kershaw, who began in the Gulf Coast League.
Current Dodgers pitching coach Rick Honeycutt was Collins' minor league pitching coordinator then and approached him after watching Kershaw throw.
"He went, 'Oh wow,' " Collins said.
"When he takes the ball he wants to finish what he starts," Collins said of Kershaw. "I'm not surprised he's as good as he is."
Collins plans to start three left-handed hitters against Kershaw: Curtis Granderson, Daniel Murphy and Duda, who reminded his manager of his ability to hit against lefties.
"I told him the other day, 'Remember when you told me you hit lefties?'" Collins said. "Well, you're going to face a pretty good one Friday, so you better."
Sports on 10/09/2015