The New York Mets approach Sunday night’s primetime contest against the Los Angeles Dodgers with a mix of urgency and optimism as they look to secure a series win at Citi Field and continue building consistency following a season that’s featured flashes of brilliance and frustrating stretches of underachievement. Despite being underdogs in the broader National League picture, the Mets are slight home favorites in this matchup, a nod to Kodai Senga’s presence on the mound and the perceived vulnerability of a Dodgers team weakened by pitching injuries. Senga, the Mets’ most dynamic starter, has shown the ability to dominate even elite lineups with his deadly forkball and precise fastball command, but he’ll need to be nearly flawless against a Dodgers offense stacked with power and patience. New York’s success hinges not only on Senga’s ability to navigate the trio of Ohtani, Betts, and Freeman, but also on the Mets’ own offense capitalizing on whatever pitching vulnerabilities LA’s depleted staff may present. At the plate, Pete Alonso continues to anchor the middle of the lineup with his trademark power, while Francisco Lindor remains the team’s most versatile offensive weapon, capable of changing the game with his bat, glove, or legs. However, both have been streaky, and for the Mets to keep pace in what could easily become a high-scoring affair, contributions from the supporting cast—including Brandon Nimmo, Jeff McNeil, and Brett Baty—will be crucial.

The Mets’ bullpen has also emerged as a stabilizing force in recent weeks, headlined by closer Edwin Díaz, whose high-octane fastball-slider combination remains one of the most feared in the game when he’s on his game. Setup roles have rotated due to inconsistency and injuries, but if the Mets can hand over a lead after six innings, they have reason to feel confident about shutting things down. Still, the Dodgers have owned the Mets in recent history, with New York covering the spread just twice in their last 10 meetings and consistently falling victim to late-game rallies from LA. That history, along with a seven-game over trend in their matchups, underscores just how crucial it will be for the Mets to strike first and maintain offensive pressure throughout the night. From a strategic standpoint, manager Carlos Mendoza will need to be decisive in matchup-based bullpen moves and may need to show some creativity in lineup construction to counteract LA’s strengths. Home field advantage and crowd energy should give the Mets a motivational lift, particularly if Senga sets the tone early and their bats can capitalize on any early mistakes from the Dodgers’ starter. This game offers the Mets an opportunity not just to win a series against one of MLB’s top teams, but also to signal that they can hang with playoff-caliber opponents when everything clicks. A win would serve as a momentum-builder heading into the next series and reinforce belief that, despite an up-and-down campaign so far, the pieces are there for the Mets to compete meaningfully in the National League playoff race.