The highly anticipated 2024 MLB NLCS has finally arrived. National League West juggernaut, the LA Dodgers will square off against the red-hot New York Mets representing the National League East.
The last time these two teams met at this stage of the MLB season was in 1988. That year, Tommy Lasorda's Dodgers outlasted Davey Johson's Mets in seven outings. The Dodgers advanced to the World Series and beat the Oakland Athletics in five games.
In this year's division series, the LA Dodgers overcame the San Diego Padres in five games after being down 2-1. With newly acquired superstar Shohei Ohtani and ace Yoshinobu Yamamoto, the team is gunning for their first World Series title since the pandemic-shortened 2020 season.
On the other hand, the New York Mets' journey to the NLCS was nothing short of spectacular. At the team's lowest point, it tallied a disappointing 22-33 record in late May after getting swept in their three-game series against the Dodgers at home. However, it all turned around after the "Grimace Effect" in early June.
In the opening game of their series against the Miami Marlins on June 12, McDonald's mascot Grimace threw a horrible iteration of a first pitch. However, the team won 12 of their next 16 games to close out the month and stabilize their record at 40-41. Since Grimace's first pitch, the Mets won 61 of 97 games to clinch a wild card berth.
2024 MLB NLCS Schedule
For the third year in a row, the league has implemented its extended playoff format. However, no changes were made in the setup of either the NLCS or the ALCS. The championship series will feature a best-of-seven that's scheduled to commence on Sunday.
Only the first three games so far have definitive start times and broadcast stations posted. Games 1 and 2 will be shown on FOX. Game 2 will also be broadcast on FS1. When the series shifts to New York for Game 3, the match will be shown on FS1.
As for the radio broadcasts, Games 1 and 2 will be on Dodgers Radio AM570 and KTNQ 1020 for LA and Audacity Mets Radio WHSQ 880AM for New York. In addition, Audacity App 92.3 HD2 has been added as a broadcast station for Game 3. All three games will be on ESPN Radio nationally.