In a surprising twist, Shohei Ohtani didn’t take off when he probably should have. The Dodgers had a golden chance right out of the gate on Friday to put some runs on the board in Game 5 of the NLCS. With Ohtani at third and nobody out, it seemed like a sure thing. 

However, Ohtani failed and froze where he shouldn’t have. That left the Dodgers without a lead. Manager Dave Roberts was pretty candid about how he felt about that decision, showing his frustration with the missed opportunity.

Shohei Ohtani’s mistake proves heavy for the Dodgers 

Fox’s Ken Rosenthal met up with Roberts in the guest dugout at the top of the third inning. Roberts looked surprised that Ohtani hadn’t just trotted home for the game’s first run. He was left scratching his head at that particular time. He said “ Yeah I don’t know. It was corners in right there, ball to the middle of the field. I think he just had a brain cramp and locked up right there” Just two batters later, after Ohtani froze, the Mets managed to escape the jam and kept the Dodgers off the board.  

The Dodgers’ loss to the Mets on Friday in Game 5 of the National League Championship Series has shifted the series back to Los Angeles for Game 6 on Sunday. This also means the World Series will kick off on Friday, October 25. Now the big question is: which teams will be battling it out in the 2024 Fall Classic? For the first time, the World Series schedule was adjustable this year. Should the two League Championship Series have concluded in five games, Tuesday, October 22 would have been the likely start date. It gives the postseason a little more oomph! 

Where do the teams stand in this postseason showdown?

The New York Mets thrive when the pressure is on, and they delivered again in Game 5 of the National League Championship Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers on Friday night. After stumbling in the first two games at Citi Field, the Mets roared back to life, demolishing the Dodgers 12-6 in front of an electric crowd of 43,841 fans.

Meanwhile, across town, the Yankees are looking to follow in the Dodgers’ footsteps as they head into their own Game 5 of the American League Championship Series on Saturday. With a commanding 3-1 lead over the Guardians, the Yankees are just one win away from punching their ticket to the World Series. The Dodgers, on the other hand, are trying to capitalize on one of two opportunities to close out the Mets in the NLCS at home and secure their place in the Fall Classic.

With 98 wins in the regular season, the Dodgers earned home-field advantage throughout the playoffs. The Yankees, not far behind with 94 wins, and the Guardians, with 92, had the top two records in the American League. But if it comes down to the Mets facing either the Yankees or the Guardians, the 89-win Mets would be on the road. It’s all building up to a thrilling finish, and the stage is set for an unforgettable postseason showdown!