National League Divisional Series Predictions - New York Mets vs. Los Angeles Dodgers

New York Mets vs. Los Angeles Dodgers

The New York Mets did not officially clinch the NL East until September, but unofficially the Mets have had the division won since July. The Mets got out to a very fast start behind the pitching of Pedro Martinez and Tom Glavine and the hitting of a very powerful lineup. The Dodgers on the other hand struggled throughout the early part of the season and could not seem to find any way to win. But the Dodgers went on a remarkable run and are now in the playoffs with a team that is very balanced throughout.

The Mets are now without ace Pedro Martinez, who is out for the next 8 months after surgery. The Mets will now have to turn to veterans Tom Glavine and Orlando Hernandez to lead the pitching staff in the post-season. Hernandez has been a post-season star with the New York Yankees and last year pitched very well for the White Sox out of the bullpen. His career post-season record is 9-3 in 19 games, 14 starts, with a 2.55 ERA and 107 strikeouts and has three World Series rings. This season Hernandez was up and down and finished with a 4.66 ERA, but at times it seems as if he is a different pitcher during the post season and the Mets hope to see the man who put together that impressive record. Glavine had a very solid season, going 15-7 with a 3.82 ERA and in his playoff career 12-15 with a 3.44 ERA and one World Series ring.

After Hernandez and Glavine the Mets are weak, with Steve Traschel and John Maine rounding out the rotation. Traschel won 15 games this season but had a 4.97 ERA and has never pitched in the post-season. Maine, who came over in the Jorge Julio trade with the Orioles, has appeared to be dominant at times, but struggled at other times, and went 6-5 with a 3.60 ERA.

The Mets will depend on the offense to win, just as their New York counterparts the Yankees will. The two New York teams are very similar and both won this season with average pitching and dominant offenses. Jose Reyes is another one of the top leadoff hitters in baseball, much like Damon and Jeter. His .300 average, 19 home runs and 81 RBI, to go along with 64 stolen bases and a .354 OBP made him a legitamate NL MVP candidate. Carlos Beltran became the offensive leader of the team after struggling in his first season of his big Mets contract, hitting 41 home runs and driving in 116 runs, putting together a very impressive case for NL MVP as well. David Wright is the third of the big four in New York, and he hit .311 with 26 home runs and 111 RBI, while the fourth member of the big four, Carlos Delgado, had 38 home runs and 114 runs driven in. Cliff Floyd, Jose Valentin, Paul LoDuca (who could be the best catcher in the NL) and Shawn Green provide good support for the four stars.

The Dodgers on the other hand are very balanced throughout the entire team. The pitching staff is anchored by Derek Lowe (16-8, 3.63 ERA), Brad Penny (16-9, 4.33 ERA), and Greg Maddux (15-14, 4.20 ERA). All three pitchers have World Series rings and give the Dodgers much more depth than the Mets have. Chad Billingsley, a rookie, has been very impressive since coming up to the Dodgers and his 7-4 record with a 3.80 ERA will fill the fourth spot in the rotation.

The Dodgers do not have a poweful lineup, with the resurgent Nomar Garciaparra and J.D. Drew leading the team in home runs with just 20. Garciaparra hit .303 this season and drove in 93 RBI, while Drew had 100 runs driven in, also the team high. Russell Martin, the rookie catcher, hit .282, Rafael Furcal at short hit .300 with 15 home runs, Jeff Kent had 14 home runs, and rookie Andre Either hit .308. Kenny Lofton adds a veteran presence in center field and hit .301 out of the lead off spot, while Julio Lugo adds depth on the bench.

Prediction: New York Mets in 4

The Mets will get solid pitching in games 1 and 2 from Hernandez and Glavine, but Maddux will lead the Mets to a game three win and then the Mets will use offense to win game 4.