The reigning World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers have already clinched the NL West and a postseason birth.
Los Angeles will be hosting one of the two NL wild card series beginning Tuesday. The Dodgers would seem to be the overwhelming favorite over the Cincinnati Reds or the New York Mets, but MLB Network’s Mark DeRosa doesn’t believe that will necessarily be the case.
DeRosa spoke on “MLB Central” Friday morning and discussed why both Cincinnati and New York may have a chance to knock off Los Angeles in the first round.
“The Reds and the Mets have a punchers chance against the Dodgers,” DeRosa said in a clip posted to X. “The Reds go in with a puncher’s chance because of the starting rotation. … Starting rotation wise, Cincinnati will give you everything they have.”
While it’s the pitching for the Reds that makes DeRosa believe they have a fighting chance, it is a different story for why he believes in the Mets over the Dodgers.
“Whenever you need to quiet the noise, get this guy to the plate,” DeRosa said. “Francisco Lindor has been a money player for this team. Just thinking about last year, the grand slam against the Phillies, the moments against the Braves down the stretch. Whenever he needs to, he is able to relax.”
DeRosa went on to discuss more about Brett Baty, the Mets offense and why it could be so challenging for the Dodgers staff to collect 27 outs.
Los Angeles will certainly have to play some of its best baseball to avoid being knocked out in the first round of the postseason.
More MLB: All-Star Dumped By Blue Jays Joins National League East Team
