Jose Iglesias’s struggles at the plate during the NLCS led manager Carlos Mendoza to make a significant lineup change for Game 5 against the Dodgers, opting to start Jeff McNeil at second base instead. Despite Iglesias’s previous contributions during the regular season, his postseason performance had been disappointing, with a batting line of .227/.261/.227 over 11 games. Mendoza’s decision was based on a gut feeling that introducing McNeil would provide a different look and potentially spark the offense.
McNeil, who had been sidelined since September 6 due to a fractured right wrist, made his first start in a while. Although he didn’t record a hit in three at-bats, he did manage to drive in two runs with sacrifice flies, contributing to the Mets’ 12-6 victory over the Dodgers. Mendoza acknowledged that it was a tough decision to bench Iglesias, but he believed it was the right move for the team’s needs in that particular game.
Throughout the first four games of the NLCS, the Mets had struggled significantly, being outscored by the Dodgers 30-9. Mendoza highlighted that the pitching staff had been a concern, emphasizing the need to improve their approach to the strike zone. He pointed out that the Dodgers were adept at capitalizing on mistakes, which put additional pressure on the Mets to execute their pitches effectively.
Despite their struggles, Mendoza remained optimistic about his team’s offensive potential. He stated that while they hadn’t been able to score many runs, they were creating opportunities by getting players on base. He believed that if the team continued to generate traffic, they would eventually come through with key hits when it mattered most.
As the Mets faced the looming threat of elimination, Mendoza chose to connect with his players on a more personal level, opting for individual or small group discussions rather than addressing the entire team at once. Following the game, the Mets planned to travel to Southern California and conduct a workout at Dodger Stadium, hoping to build momentum for the upcoming challenge.
