The Los Angeles Dodgers face the New York Mets in Game 6 of the National League Championship Series on Sunday, October 20, 2024 (10/20/24) at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, California.

The Dodgers lead the series 3-2.

How to watch: Fans can watch DirecTV Stream or fuboTV with a FREE trial.

Here’s what you need to know:

What: NLCS Game 6

Who: Los Angeles Dodgers vs. New York Mets

When: October 20, 2024

Time: 8:00 PM ET (5:00 PM PT)

Where: Dodger Stadium

TV: FS1

Free live stream: DirectTV stream, fuboTV

Here’s a recent MLB story from the AP:

NEW YORK (AP) — “Big Spender” is the theme music for baseball’s final four.

The New York Mets, New York Yankees and Los Angeles Dodgers participate in the League Championship Series and are among the sport’s top three payrolls, tied with Cleveland at No. 23.

“You have to scratch and claw and match and make moves and make shots and hope it works,” Guardians manager Stephen Vogt said. “While for the other three teams, for the majorities, they decide their lineup and start playing.”

The Mets-Dodgers National League Championship Series that starts Sunday and the Yankees-Guardians American League game that starts Monday feature some of baseball’s biggest stars: Shohei Ohtani, Mookie Betts, Aaron Judge, Juan Soto, Francisco Lindor and Pete Alonso. Cleveland has its best closer in Emmanuel Clase and a top hitter in José Ramírez.

Playoff pairings bring to the forefront the question of whether spending equals success.

“Obviously, spending more gives you a better opportunity — you bring in more players,” Mets reliever Adam Ottavino said. “But it clearly hasn’t always been this way.”

The Mets have the highest payroll at $332 million, followed by the Yankees at $311 million and the Dodgers at $266 million, according to Major League Baseball’s latest projections (final figures won’t be calculated until the winter, after all bonuses have been determined). The Guardians stands at $109 million.

“I’m not thinking about payroll,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said. “I think about our 26 guys and beating the Mets. That’s it.”

Texas ranked sixth in payroll last year with $241 million when it won the World Series against Arizona, which was 20th with $129 million.

The only top spenders to win titles since the start of the current luxury tax are the 2020 Dodgers, the 2018 Red Sox and the 2009 Yankees. Boston has won twice with a top-three payroll, as the second-largest spender in 2004 and 2007, and the third highest in 2013.

Seven of the last 21 champions have had payrolls outside the top 10: the 2021 Braves (14th), 2017 Astros (18th), 2015 Royals (13th), 2011 Cardinals (11th), 2010 Giants (11th), 2005 White Sox ( 13e). ) and 2003 Marlins (20th).

“As far as payroll goes, it ultimately comes down to playing good baseball,” said San Diego manager Mike Shildt, whose team finished in 15th place and lost to Los Angeles in a five-game Division Series.

The Dodgers and Mets will meet in the postseason for the fourth time, following the 1988 NLCS, won by LA, and the 2006 and ’15 NLDS, won by New York. The 1988 matchup was highlighted by the ejection of Dodgers pitcher Jay Howell in Game 3 for having pine tar on his glove, and the 2015 NLDS was marred by the Dodgers’ Chase Utley hitting the leg of shortstop Ruben Tejada broke while trying to break up a double play. . MLB responded by banning rolling body blocks before the 2016 season.

After the Mets won two of three at Dodger Stadium in April, Los Angeles defeated New York at Citi Field in late May, setting up a players-only meeting that sparked New York’s turnaround from a 22–33 start .

Jack Flaherty will start the opener for the Dodgers and Kodai Senga for the Mets, in just his third appearance in an injury-riddled season. Sean Manaea is pitching Game 2 for New York, which earned three days off by beating Philadelphia in a four-game Division Series.

Dodgers All-Star first baseman Freddie Freeman, playing with a sprained right ankle, was 4 for 14 with no RBIs in the NLDS.

Cleveland and the Yankees will play in the postseason for the seventh time. Cleveland won the Division Series in 1997 and 2007, and lost the 1998 ALCS, the Division Series in 2017 and ’22 and the wild-card round in 2020. The Yankees were four outs away from advancing in 1997 before Sandy Alomar scored the tying goal off Mariano Rivera won. Game 4. The Indians won the series in five games, eliminating New York, which had won the 1996 title and then won three more from 1998-2000.

Two years ago, Cleveland’s Josh Naylor angered Yankees fans with his rock-the-baby celebration of a home run off Gerrit Cole in Game 4.

New York won two of three in Cleveland in April and also at home in August. After beating Kansas City in a four-game ALDS, the Yankees were able to go with Carlos Rodón in the opener and Cole in Game 2. Cleveland, which defeated Detroit in Game 5 on Saturday, could play Alex Cobb in Game 1.

“It’s obviously a huge bullpen,” Yankees manager Aaron Boone said. “Athletic. They defend very well. They are quite balanced in their attack.”

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