In the first matchup of this NLCS, the Dodgers' dominant pitching continued as their scoreless innings streak extended to 33 in a 9-0 victory over the Mets.
Theyplan on turning to a bullpen game in Game 2, so I'm turning my attention to a pair of bats. Mookie Betts and Kiké Hernández helped spark the Dodgers' offense in Game 1, and I expect that to continue today.
Continue below for my Mets vs Dodgers Game 2 props and my MLB picks for Monday, October 14.
Mets vs Dodgers Game 2 Player Props
- Mookie Betts Over 1.5 Hits + Runs + RBIs (-115, DraftKings)
- Kiké Hernández Over 0.5 Hits (-120, DraftKings)
Mookie Betts Player Props: Slugger in MVP Form
Mookie Betts began this postseason 0-for-6, extending his struggles to 0-for-22 and 3-for-44 over the last couple of Dodgers' postseason runs. However, Betts has been in MVP-form over the last few games. Betts homered in Games 3 and 4 of the NLDS against the Padres. He was a Jurickson Profar home run robbery from that streak being three games.
In Game 1 against the Mets last night, Betts scored after drawing a walk in the first inning. Later, he unloaded the bases with a three-run double in the eighth inning. Betts had five hits + runs + runs batted in last night and actually has had five in three of his past four games. In two of those games, he had two hits and he has another quality matchup tonight.
Betts is 10-for-32 (.313) with two doubles, two triples, three home runs, eight runs batted in, and a 1.153 OPS against Sean Manaea. Betts is a career .297 hitter against left-handed pitching and he hit .308 against them this season. Batting average wise (.190), Manaea was tougher on right-handed hitters this season, but he did still surrender 52 runs, 22 doubles, 14 home runs, and 53 runs batted in to them in the regular season.
Now, because seven of his hits off Manaea have gone for extra bases, I am also interested in his total bases, which are +120 today. However, batting behind Shohei Ohtani and in front of Freddie Freeman and Teoscar Hernandez among others, Betts is in great position to score or drive in a run with a hot Dodgers lineup right now. Another teammate who may be on base for him to drive in is Kiké Hernández.
Kiké Hernández Player Props: Expect This LA Hitter to Thrive
On Friday night, the aforementioned Hernandez had one of the biggest hits of the Dodgers' season with a solo home run to get the Dodgers on the board in the decisive Game 5 against San Diego. With two more hits last night, Hernandez has five hits over his last three games and is hitting .385 this postseason. Hernandez has a hit in 10 of his last 14 games dating back to the regular season.
Today, extending that trend may prove to be a challenge. Unlike Betts, Hernandez has struggled mightily against Manaea as he is just 1-for-11 (.091) against him. However, Manaea's outs recorded line is 16.5 juiced -120 to the under. If Manaea goes under this line, he likely only would face Hernandez twice.
Regardless, I like Hernandez today because of his track record in the postseason where he is a .281 hitter. He has hit .375 or better in four of his last five postseason runs between the Dodgers and Red Sox. He is also tied-eighth among active players with 14 home runs in the postseason. A home run would be nice today, but a single would clear this line just the same whether it is off Manaea or not.
