By Fabian Ardaya, Tim Britton, Will Sammon and Eno Sarris

The Los Angeles Dodgers and New York Mets both put away division rivals in the NLDS to keep their postseason hopes alive and reach the NLCS. The Dodgers overcame a 2-1 series deficit against the Padres, storming back to shut out San Diego in a decisive Game 5. The Mets took care of the Phillies in four, with Francisco Lindor slamming the door on Philadelphia to give New York its first playoff series win at Citi Field.

This is the fourth time these teams have squared off in the postseason, with the Mets prevailing in the 2015 NLDS and 2006 NLDS and the Dodgers taking the 1988 NLCS. This best-of-seven NLCS begins Sunday in L.A., with the winner advancing to the World Series to face the New York Yankees or the Cleveland Guardians.

Game times

Game 1: Mets at Dodgers, Sunday, Oct. 13, 8:15 p.m. ET, Fox

Game 2: Mets at Dodgers, Monday, Oct. 14, 4:08 p.m. ET, Fox/FS1

Game 3: Dodgers at Mets, Wednesday, Oct. 16, 8:08 p.m. ET, FS1

Game 4: Dodgers at Mets, Thursday, Oct. 17, Time TBD, FS1

Game 5: Dodgers at Mets, Friday, Oct. 18, Time TBD, Fox/FS1 (if necessary)

Game 6: Mets at Dodgers, Sunday, Oct. 20, Time TBD, Fox/FS1 (if necessary)

Game 7: Mets at Dodgers, Monday, Oct. 21, Time TBD, Fox/FS1 (if necessary)

Pitching matchups

The Dodgers’ staff should be deeper than the Mets, and probably also better. If Yoshinobu Yamamoto is going to sit 97 mph and look as sharp as he did in Game 5 of the Divisional Series, that gives the Dodgers an ace to throw against any other. Jack Flaherty is a good No. 2 and equal to any starter New York will throw out there. And if the Mets have a better third starter, the Dodgers’ bullpen depth should help them zero out that difference. The Dodgers had a whopping 15 relievers who featured above-average stuff in the regular season, and they’ve showcased that depth this October. Blake Treinen, Evan Phillips, Alex Vesia, Daniel Hudson and Michael Kopech have collectively hung a zero on the postseason. And if Vesia is injured, the Dodgers have other pitchers who can step forward.

But anything can happen in the playoffs. After all, Philadelphia probably had a better staff than the Mets, and yet it was the Phillies who imploded — they pitched to a 5.82 ERA overall in the NLDS while the Mets got 18 innings of four-run ball from the trio of Sean Manaea, Luis Severino and Jose Quintana. Those starters have been mixing it up well, and taking their inspiration from tragedy or whimsy. With Kodai Senga back in the fold — even with a couple of his pitches moving strangely and his velocity a little down — this might be a “just enough” kind of rotation.

It just feels like a high-wire act for New York — with all that below-average velocity from the starters, and a bullpen that somehow has an ERA around 4 despite a 12 percent walk rate and a below-average strikeout-minus-walk rate. No pitcher represents how shaky, yet successful this bullpen has been in the postseason better than the Mets’ closer. Edwin Díaz has blown a save, is sporting a postseason ERA over 8, and has five walks in 3 1/3 innings, but he also has seven strikeouts, a save and a win. Just enough from this staff will be four-ish innings from the starter, good bridge work from previous starters David Peterson and Tylor Megill, and a version of Díaz that somehow finds his command that’s been missing. Maybe a few days off will help, given his heavy usage.

The Dodgers just have fewer questions in the bullpen. That’s mostly what gives them the advantage in this pitching matchup. — Sarris

Why the Dodgers will win

They may be the most talented team left in the tournament along with its hottest bullpen. Mookie Betts’ bat came to life. The Dodgers’ lineup has shown depth and length, with Kiké Hernández once again emerging as a clutch October performer in their NLDS-clinching win. They still employ Shohei Ohtani.

And, believe it or not, the strength of their bullpen might be giving them enough pitching to make the rest of the pieces of the puzzle work. Dodgers pitchers combined to hold the Padres to 24 consecutive scoreless innings to end the series, the longest consecutive stretch in franchise postseason history. Yamamoto was sterling in the series clincher and could be back to start for the Dodgers as soon as Game 4 of the NLCS. Flaherty is lined up to pitch Game 1. And their bullpen could likely run back the bullpen game it successfully executed in Game 4 of the NLDS. — Ardaya

Why the Mets will win

Well, there’s this whole “Mets Magic” thing going on. You know, the fast-food mascot, the “playoff pumpkin” and the catchy pop song. If that’s not enough for your taste, the Mets proved long ago that they’re a pretty good baseball team.

The Mets’ lineup has displayed the kind of versatility that tends to come in handy in October. They can string together hits for a big inning late in games and they also have the ability to overwhelm pitching staffs with their power. The Mets’ defense is as crisp as it has been all year. And their starting rotation continues to surprisingly impress — more often than not in the playoffs, a Mets starter has thrown at least six innings. As long as the rotation continues to pitch deep into games, their bullpen becomes less concerning.

The Mets do not have a dominant bridge to Díaz, who has also looked shaky. But the return of Senga allows the Mets to be creative elsewhere. He is still limited but should be able to give the Mets more than the two innings he threw in Game 1 against the Phillies. Senga’s presence allows the Mets to use Megill, a righty, and Peterson, a lefty, out of the bullpen in either bulk or leverage roles. — Britton and Sammon

Staff picks

His status will be as much of a question throughout the NLCS as it was during the NLDS. Freeman took 14 at-bats and started four of the five games in the series, but he’s dealing with an ankle injury that would normally knock him out for a month. Freeman said during Friday’s celebration he expects to be in the lineup for Game 1 of the NLCS, but even that likely would come with some compromise in terms of his mobility and ability to potentially play in consecutive games. — Ardaya

But seriously, who else could it be? Lindor has been the central figure of the Mets’ entire turnaround, sparking it with his offensive production in late May and pushing it further and further with his all-around brilliance late in the season. His heroics to clinch a playoff berth and now lift the Mets into the NLCS have cemented this as probably the best individual season by a position player in team history. He can win a game in so many ways, and he’s shown it throughout the season. — Britton and Sammon

Tale of the Tape

Dodgers must-reads

Kiké Hernández delivers again as Dodgers advance: ‘He’s not afraid of the moment’

Dave Roberts knows that for the Dodgers, it’s title or bust: ‘It’s expected’

Freddie Freeman begins next chapter after his most arduous season

Why Dodgers’ defense of the NL West is ‘a tick sweeter’

Shohei Ohtani delivers with ridiculous performance: ‘Makes you speechless’

Mets must-reads

Francisco Lindor’s swing of a lifetime lifts the Mets into the NLCS

Mets’ longest-tenured players celebrate breakthrough: ‘A dream come true’

Pete Alonso delivers heroic homer after teammate calls the shot

In an instant classic, Mets clinch playoff berth with win over Braves

Inside the Mets’ revival: Grimace, OMG and a turnaround no one saw coming

GO DEEPER

Yankees vs. Guardians ALCS preview: Predictions, pitching matchups and more

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What we learned in the NLDS and ALDS: Bullpens, large sluggers, Steven Kwan is back

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(Top image: Pete Alonso: Rob Tringali / MLB Photos via Getty Images; Mookie Betts: Harry How / Getty Images)

It looked like a play from the NFL.

Christian Pulisic tussled with his blocker and former team-mate, Yacine Adli, then ran a route from inside to out. He got open for Theo Hernandez’s looping ball to the far post, leapt and executed a magnificent volley back across goal in the style of AC Milan great Marco van Basten.

It was from an acute angle. Both feet were off the ground and Pulisic somehow contrived to beat a goalkeeper in David de Gea who, otherwise, seemed unbeatable in Florence. 

يا عيني على الفخامة يا بوليسيتش 🔥#الدوري_الإيطالي pic.twitter.com/XEk5vjwnLb

— الدوري الايطالي (@SerieA_AR) October 7, 2024

The goal should have been the main story. But Milan lost 2-1 to Fiorentina. It was their second defeat in a row in all competitions. 

The usually unflappable Paulo Fonseca didn’t want to talk about the referee at the Artemio Franchi. At least not in specifics. “I love this game,” the Milan head coach said, “and don’t wish to contribute to this circus.” The referee had pointed to the spot in favour of Fiorentina and then awarded Milan two penalties. Pulisic, as Milan’s designated taker, could have ended the night with a hat-trick. 

But he didn’t take either of them. Theo Hernandez, who was skippering Milan, stepped up for the first one, hoping to make it 1-1 on the stroke of half-time. It was his birthday and if he had scored, he would have become the highest-scoring defender in Milan’s history. De Gea thwarted him. 

Then Fikayo Tomori caught the ball and handed it to his best friend Tammy Abraham to have a go at the next one. This did not come as a complete surprise. Back in September, Milan were given a couple of penalties against Venezia, too. Pulisic put the first one away then allowed Abraham to take the second. The Englishman had recently joined on loan from Roma and his team-mates wanted to see him get off the mark. Unlike in Florence, where Milan were still seeking an equaliser, they were, on that occasion, 3-0 up at San Siro against a winless promoted side.  

Abraham opened his account against Venezia. But De Gea stopped him from adding to it at the weekend. 

While Pulisic’s volley drew Milan level shortly afterwards, Fiorentina went on to win and Fonseca couldn’t hide his disappointment at his players disregarding team orders. “Obviously I’ve told the players this can’t happen again. The player who should be taking them is Christian. And I’m pissed off about it.” 

The result, the penalty farrago and Hernandez’s late red card dominated the headlines, which could, with a different outcome, been stolen by Pulisic. He won’t forget his goal in a hurry. It was technically his best since his move to Italy a year ago, although he might make a case for his debut strike in Bologna, the one against Frosinone when he brought down a Mike Maignan goal-kick with a velcro-like first touch or his far corner curlers against Monza and Lecce.

Pulisic’s most important goal, no doubt, came last month when he became the first ever American to score in the Derby della Madonnina and stopped a six-game losing streak against Inter, as Milan beat their rivals for the first time in two years.

It means that the Pulisic flying home for Mauricio Pochettino’s first games in charge of the USMNT is arguably the best ever Pulisic.

Speaking ahead of matches against Panama on Saturday and Mexico on Tuesday, the 26-year-old said: “Yeah, it’s tough to explain (his form). I think you have moments in your career where it feels like everything you touch goes in, and you have other times when it feels like you’re trying everything and the ball just won’t go in. As an attacking player, we’ve all gone through it. So, I’m just trying to live in that moment right now, when things seem to be going well and just continue like this. It’s a result of all the work I’ve put in my whole life. So it shouldn’t be a surprise. I know I have this ability and I’m just going to ride that high, I guess.”

His new USMNT coach is pleased too, describing Pulisic as “a great, great player, fantastic player, a player that is going to help now and in the future to put the team in a place that we want. He’s one of the best offensive players in the world.”

But there was also some concern about Pulisic overexerting himself. “He is playing every single game, every single minute. That is also, I think, that we are a little bit worried that sometimes we need to protect (him). We’ll see. Because he arrived a little bit tired. But that is a thing that I told (you) before, is to build a very good relationship with the club and try to help and when we really need him, he needs to be in form happy, strong.”

No one in Serie A has been involved in more goals (21 + 12 assists) in Pulisic’s time in the league; not Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, not Lautaro Martinez, nor team-mate Rafael Leao. 

Those who doubted his durability must reckon with the fact he started 44 games for Milan last season and played more than 4,000 minutes for club and country. Initially signed as a No 10 who could cover the wing positions when needed, he kept Samuel Chukwueze out of the side when Stefano Pioli instead opted to play him on the right. 

Pulisic is in excellent form (Katie Stratman-Imagn Images)

This season, he is threatening to become Milan’s best overall player. Theo and Leao remain the most talented. But they both blow hot and cold. Pulisic, meanwhile, continues to deliver. He has scored in four consecutive league games for the first time in Europe’s top five leagues, a level of consistency that has, in part, been hidden by Milan’s up-and-down start to the season. 

Yunus Musah, his team-mate for club and country, says this is exactly what Pulisic is capable of. “It’s no surprise,” he said on Friday, “but it’s always nice to see him score, helping the team. He’s our (Milan’s) best attacking player right now, and I hope he carries on like that.”

🥁🥁 The September MVP is…. 🥁🥁

Take a bow, @pulisic! 👏@emirates #SempreMilan pic.twitter.com/VJ0YV8wdc6

— AC Milan (@acmilan) October 4, 2024

Granted, not every goalscoring performance has been a complete performance. Pulisic scored in the defeat at Parma and then faded, as did the rest of the team. But he played as if possessed against Inter. Pulisic repeatedly drove at their defence, stole the ball off Henrikh Mkhitaryan for his goal, shushed the team’s critics and later nutmegged Alessandro Bastoni, which led the Italy international to then push him to the ground. 

“Christian’s participation in our play is more effective,” Fonseca explained to DAZN. It has come about for a number of reasons. 

On the one hand, he is maturing and knows the league and his team-mates better. On the other, Milan’s new coaching staff have slightly tweaked his position. In the defeat by Liverpool, Fonseca tried out a different system. Out of possession, Milan played 4-2-4 with a very narrow forward line. It meant that if and when they won the ball back high up the pitch, as happened a few days later against Inter, Pulisic was more central, closer to goal and more dangerous.

“It’s not like he’s only playing inside,” Fonseca elaborated. “There are times when he goes wide too. This way he is closer to goal, to shooting and assisting. He knows how to play between the lines and that’s important for me. He has also scored goals like a No 9.” 

If only he’d take more penalties. If only he had better support from full-back than Emerson Royal, Milan could get even more bang for their buck. But the €20million (£16.7m; $21.9m) they paid for Pulisic a year ago looks better and better value with each passing game.

The move has worked out for them, for him and, as the World Cup approaches, USMNT. 

(Additional contributor: Paul Tenorio)

(Top image: Photo Agency/Getty Images)

For more than 20 years, Rafael Nadal leaned into his reputation for authenticity.

Roger Federer was the tennis politician, an artless beacon of neutrality. Novak Djokovic was fated to manage the difficult task of fitting into a sport that the Nadal-Federer rivalry had come to define, by trying on a series of identities. He has only recently settled into his best fit: a tennis statesman prone to releasing the antagonistic tennis demon that he so relishes and which always lurks within.

Rafa just did Rafa. He was never afraid to be painfully honest with what was unfolding in front of his eyes or around him. Sometimes he used his words, punctuating a sentence with his trademark, “that is my true.” Sometimes it was one of those eyebrows, arched with the curve of his forehand, or the sarcastic grin that barely held back his disbelief.

“Really, amigo?” he might have said as Federer played on until 41, essentially on one knee in his final go-rounds, or as Andy Murray gamely tested rackets and tried to defy spinal surgery this spring and summer. Nadal shared with them the desire to have nothing left to give, but his decision to call it quits at 38 after the Davis Cup Finals in Malaga this November feels downright speedy by comparison even with the halting physical uncertainty of his last two years.

Nadal collected all the data he needed to conclude his time had passed in 16 matches over four months, all of them on red clay, the surface where besting him had once been arguably the toughest task in any sport. He won 10 and lost six, including two painful and somewhat lopsided defeats to Alexander Zverev and to Djokovic on Court Philippe-Chatrier at Roland Garros, his supposed living room. That was that, regardless of that raging-bull, never-quit mentality that has awed friends and foes alike for ages.

“He’s the strongest player I’ve seen, mentally, and I’m not talking just about tennis, I’m talking about all sports,” his friend and compatriot Feliciano Lopez said in an interview Thursday.

The mentality was never his doubt. Nadal wanted to play without physical limitations. He couldn’t.

“It’s obviously a difficult decision, one that has taken me some time to make,” he said in his retirement video.

“Everything in this life has a beginning and an end. I think it is the appropriate time to end a career.”

How Rafael Nadal will leave tennis

It’s true that this has been in the works for something on the order of two years, ever since Nadal pulled up while chasing a forehand in Rod Laver Arena at the Australian Open in January 2023. He glared up at his box in mid-stride, his eyes so wide it looked like someone had stabbed him in the hip.

In June of that year, he had surgery to repair two muscle tears, then embarked on one last comeback, enduring another series of setbacks each time he began to feel like his game might still be within reach. Ultimately, Nadal proved incapable of deluding himself that he could ever compete with the best players in the world again.

In retrospect, it probably didn’t even take that long. At the top level of tennis today, players need to be able to collect a certain number of easy points on their serve. This was especially true for Nadal, no longer with the speed or the ability to chase down balls for four hours through five sets as he had for 20 years.

He could no longer inflict the same damage on his serve, a shot that was always something of a limitation, even as he had managed to turn it from a real weakness into something of a weapon. He could no longer lift or torque his body as he once had, and he was essentially hitting two second serves every time he stepped up to the line. That would not change, even while skipping hardcourt tournaments and the Wimbledon grass, prompting thoughts of one last trip to the French capital where he, the boy from Mallorca, has his statue.

Rafael Nadal’s final French Open saw him dealt a cruel hand by the draw in the shape of Alexander Zverev. (Alain Jocard / AFP via Getty Images)

If he couldn’t go there with the dream of doing something important, he wasn’t going to bother. He didn’t need another afternoon of adulation and parting gifts if the match that preceded it would be little more than valediction.

“I prefer to stay with all the amazing memories that I have,” he said during a news conference ahead of the 2024 French Open.

Hubert Hurkacz, who also served Federer the humiliation of a Wimbledon bagel, pummeled Nadal at the Italian Open 10 days later. Nadal blew off a post-match celebration and didn’t mince words about the performance.

“I did a disaster,” he said after the match.

A spell of good health and a solid week of training ahead of that final French Open gave him some hope, but the draw delivered Zverev in the best form of his life. Nadal said he had felt good enough to perhaps improve with each match, but the pairing didn’t allow for that. Given where his ranking stood, and the state of his health, the draws probably wouldn’t have helped him again.

And then the final data point came at the Olympics in a second-round match against Djokovic, his longtime foe. In their 60th meeting, Djokovic won 6-1, 6-4 in a match that wasn’t as close as even that scoreline implies.

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Just as with Hurkacz, Nadal was cold and clear-eyed in his assessment of what had unfolded on that afternoon. He knew where his tennis stood. Djokovic had controlled the court all day, playing from all the comfortable positions, punishing Nadal on his serve and taking away his legs, as Nadal had done to so many on that red dust for so long.

“He was much better than me,” Nadal said then.

He could have played on. In an individual sport, no one cuts you from the team. Especially not tennis, and especially not tennis with Nadal, whose tournaments would dole out wild card entries to him as long as he could ask for them. He could have spent the next year enduring beatings like the ones from Hurkacz and Zverev and Djokovic, then letting crowds across the globe fete him in his anguish.

He didn’t need that. As he put it back in the spring, he preferred to stay with all his amazing memories.

(Top photo: Julian Finney / Getty Images)