The Dodgers did just enough to take down the Mets on Friday night, but they know they will continue to get New York’s best as the Mets fight to stay in the NL East race.
Los Angeles is fighting for a division title itself, chasing the league-leading Giants, but knows that the Mets will be a tough assignment as they play each other six more times in the next nine days.
“They got good pitching, and they’ve got different hitters in their lineup that present different challenges,” Max Scherzer told WFAN’s Danielle McCartan on Friday. “Facing these guys over a handful of years now, and they’ve always presented challenges. You have to be on your game if you want to win.”
Scherzer has only been with the Dodgers for two weeks after being dealt before the deadline, but coming over from the NL East after spending seven years with the Nationals, he has plenty of familiarity with the Mets, and will get another look at them in Sunday’s series finale before they square off again next week in Los Angeles.
“I’ve definitely had some battles with the Mets over the years, and it’s been fun to compete against them, because you have some of the best pitchers in the game that have come through here, with Jake obviously being the guy,” Scherzer said. “It was fun to be in the division and competing against the Mets over the years.”
The Mets won’t have deGrom for either series, as he has been shut down another two weeks, taking away a potential marquee pitching matchup. But even with a rusty Carlos Carrasco opposing Scherzer, he will have his hands full with a lineup that has seen plenty of him in recent years.
“They’re familiar with me,” Scherzer said. “As much as I’m familiar with them, they’re familiar with me. You really gotta be on your game and execute.”
The Dodgers clawed out a 10-inning thriller on Friday night after the Mets erased a 4-0 deficit in the seventh inning, and they are expecting more tough tests in the games to come, as New York fights to keep its playoff hopes alive against some of the best in baseball.
“They got a lot of talent,” Trea Turner said. “I think they’re pitching staff is really good, and their bullpen is really good from a stuff standpoint. And they’ve got a good lineup. They have guys that put good bats together and compete. It’s always hard coming here and playing in front of these fans. They get on you. It’s a good spot they have.”
Follow Danielle McCartan on Twitter: @CoachMcCartan
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