The Los Angeles Dodgers and New York Mets kicked off a thrilling three-game series on Monday night in LA, a rematch of the 2024 National League Championship Series. That October clash ended with the Dodgers lifting the NL pennant before storming through the World Series. Since then, both teams have only gotten better, with Francisco Lindor and Shohei Ohtani taking center stage.
After a transformative offseason that brought in Juan Soto, the Mets continued to build around their core, Francisco Lindor, Pete Alonso, and more. Meanwhile, the Dodgers added even more firepower to a World Series-winning roster, including reigning NL MVP Shohei Ohtani.
Star Power on Display
Monday’s opener didn’t disappoint. The game featured a marquee showdown between last season’s top-two National League MVP candidates, Shohei Ohtani and Francisco Lindor. And both superstars delivered.
Lindor wasted no time, launching a leadoff home run to open the game. Ohtani responded in the seventh inning with a towering solo shot of his own. According to Statcast, Lindor’s blast traveled 417 feet. Ohtani’s? A jaw-dropping 424 feet.
After the game, Lindor couldn’t help but poke fun at the distance on Shohei Ohtani’s homer.
“I hit it with everything I had,” Lindor joked. “Not as far as Ohtani. Ohtani’s was probably 40 feet further than mine. But they count the same.”
In reality, the difference was just seven feet, but the mutual respect between the two superstars was crystal clear.
Both Francisco Lindor and Shohei Ohtani added RBIs later in the game, keeping their teams in the thick of a tightly contested matchup. But it was Lindor’s Mets who had the final say, edging out the Dodgers 4-3 in extra innings to take Game 1 of the series.
The MVP Rivalry Continues
Lindor may have finished second to Shohei Ohtani in last season’s MVP race, but Monday night was a reminder that he’s still one of the league’s most electric players. And while Ohtani continues to make jaw-dropping plays seem routine, Lindor’s message sent a playful, and competitive signal: The Mets aren’t backing down.
This series is far from over, and if Game 1 was any indication, fans are in for a showdown worthy of October.
