The energy in Citi Field was heavy, thick with the kind of October tension that makes your stomach do flips. If you’re asking did the Dodgers lose last night, the answer is a resounding, painful no—at least if you were a Mets fan hoping for a miracle. The Los Angeles Dodgers didn't just win; they essentially deconstructed the New York Mets in a 10-2 blowout that felt even more lopsided than the final box score suggests. It was a clinic. Shohei Ohtani led off the game with a home run that practically sucked the air out of the stadium before the first beer was even poured.
Baseball is weird. One day you’re on top of the world, and the next, you’re watching Yoshinobu Yamamoto paint the corners with a curveball that looks like it’s falling off a table.
The Inevitability of the Dodgers Offense
People keep waiting for this lineup to cool off. It hasn’t happened. When you look at the box score to see if the Dodgers lost last night, you’re greeted by a terrifying reality: they are walking as much as they are hitting. They drew nine walks in Game 4. Nine. That is a level of plate discipline that breaks a pitcher’s spirit. Jose Quintana, who has been a steady veteran presence for New York, looked lost. He wasn't necessarily throwing "bad" pitches, but the Dodgers simply refused to chase.
Mookie Betts is back to being Mookie Betts. After that horrific slump in the previous postseasons, he’s found his timing. He went 4-for-6 with a home run and four RBIs. When Mookie is hitting line drives to the gap, the Dodgers are nearly impossible to beat. It changes the entire geometry of the game.
Why the Mets Couldn't Close the Gap
The Mets had chances. They really did. Mark Vientos, who has been a revelation this October, hit a solo shot to keep things interesting early on. But the "OMG" momentum just isn't there anymore. The Dodgers’ bullpen, which was supposed to be their Achilles' heel entering the playoffs, has been a fortress. Evan Phillips and Blake Treinen are pitching like it’s 2018 again.
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Honestly, the Mets looked tired. They’ve been playing "must-win" baseball since late August. That takes a toll on the legs and the mind. The Dodgers, meanwhile, look like a team that finally realized they have a $300 million payroll and decided to start playing like it.
Examining the Pitching Matchup: Yamamoto vs. The World
Yamamoto was the story. Or at least, he should have been if Ohtani hadn't stolen the headlines. The Japanese phenom went 4.1 innings, giving up two runs and striking out eight. He didn't get the win—that went to Evan Phillips—but he set the tone. His splitter was dancing.
The Mets’ approach was to try and run up his pitch count. It worked, technically, but they couldn't capitalize on the traffic. They left runners on base in almost every inning. It was a masterclass in frustration. If you’re a Dodgers fan, you’re breathing easy. If you’re rooting for the Amazins, you’re probably looking for a drink.
The Ohtani Factor
It’s almost boring to talk about how good he is, but we have to. He led off the game with a 422-foot blast. It was his third home run of the postseason. What’s wild is that he’s actually struggling with the bases empty—relative to his own standards—but as soon as someone gets on, he turns into a video game character.
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What Happens Next for Los Angeles?
They are now up 3-1 in the series. Statistically, teams with a 3-1 lead in a best-of-seven series win about 85% of the time. The Dodgers aren't just winning; they are dominating the run differential. Through four games, they’ve outscored the Mets 30-9. That’s not a competitive series; that’s a beatdown.
Jack Flaherty takes the mound next. He was lights out in Game 1. If he repeats that performance, this series doesn't go back to Los Angeles. It ends in Queens. The Mets are starting David Peterson, who has been great out of the bullpen but hasn't started a game in weeks. It’s a gamble. A massive, season-defining gamble.
- Key Stat: The Dodgers have scored 8 or more runs in three of the four games this series.
- The X-Factor: Max Muncy. He’s reached base in 12 consecutive plate appearances, breaking an MLB postseason record. He is seeing the ball like a beach ball.
- Mets Hope: Francisco Lindor needs a legendary performance. He’s been quiet. Too quiet.
Misconceptions About the Dodgers' "Superteam" Status
A lot of people think the Dodgers are just buying championships. While the payroll is huge, you can't buy the way Tommy Edman is playing. He was a trade-deadline acquisition that most people overlooked. He’s hitting over .400 in the NLCS. That’s scouting and development, not just a checkbook.
The narrative that the Dodgers choke in October is officially on life support. They’ve faced elimination against the Padres and came back. They’ve walked into a hostile environment in New York and took two of three. This team feels different than the 2022 or 2023 versions. They have a grit that was previously missing.
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Strategy for Game 5
If you are Dave Roberts, you don't overthink this. You have a massive lead. You use Flaherty as long as he's effective, but the second he wavers, you go to the "high leverage" guys. The goal is to fly back to LA with a trophy, not a scheduled Game 6.
The Mets, on the other hand, have to play desperate. Expect Carlos Mendoza to use every single pitcher he has. There is no tomorrow for New York. They need to find a way to stop the bleeding in the first three innings. If the Dodgers score early again, the crowd will turn.
Actionable Insights for the Next 24 Hours
For those tracking the betting lines or just trying to manage their expectations for the series conclusion, keep a close eye on the weather and the lineup cards.
- Watch the First Inning: The Dodgers have scored in the first inning in nearly every game this series. If they do it again in Game 5, the Mets' morale might officially snap.
- Check the Bullpen Usage: The Mets used several key arms in the blowout just to soak up innings. See who is actually "fresh" for Game 5.
- Player Props: Look at Max Muncy’s "Over" on walks. He is refusing to swing at anything outside the zone, and pitchers are terrified of him right now.
- Ticket Prices: If you're in NYC, secondary market prices for Game 5 are actually dropping as fans lose hope. You might snag a "cheap" seat for what could be the final game at Citi Field this year.
The Dodgers didn't just win; they asserted dominance. Whether that carries over to a World Series appearance remains to be seen, but right now, Los Angeles looks like the best team in baseball by a significant margin.