Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said that second baseman Gavin Lux (hip) "feels much better today," and the team expects him to be in the starting lineup for Game 3 of the National League Championship Series on Wednesday at Citi Field against the New York Mets and right-hander Luis Severino. Lux was removed from the Game 1 win on Sunday due to hip-flexor tightness and did not play in the Game 2 loss on Monday. However, the 26-year-old should be back in action on Wednesday with the series moving to the Big Apple. Lux has had a pretty solid postseason through six games, going 5-for-19 (.263) with a home run, three RBI, two walks and four runs scored. He has never faced Severino to this point in his career.

As expected, Los Angeles Dodgers right-hander Yoshinobu Yamamoto will start Game 4 of the National League Championship Series on Thursday at Citi Field against the New York Mets, according to manager Dave Roberts. Yamamoto was shaky in his first career playoff start in Game 1 of the NL Division Series against the San Diego Padres, when he allowed five earned runs on five hits (one homer) with two walks and only one strikeout in three innings. He bounced back nicely in the Game 5 start against the Friars, though, throwing five shutout innings with a walk and two strikeouts. The Japanese hurler hasn't missed many bats in the postseason and will now face a hot Mets offense on the road. The 26-year-old gave up four runs (three earned) while walking one and punching out nine in six innings in his only start against the Mets in 2024, but it came way back on April 19 in his fifth start in the majors.

New York Mets manager Carlos Mendoza confirmed on Tuesday that veteran left-hander Jose Quintana will make the start in Game 4 of the National League Championship Series on Thursday at Citi Field against the Los Angeles Dodgers. After Quintana, nothing is official, but right-hander Kodai Senga is the most logical candidate to start Game 5 after he got the nod in Game 1 on Sunday. In two starts this postseason against the Milwaukee Brewers and Philadelphia Phillies, Quintana has been lights-out for the Mets, allowing one run (zero earned) on six hits while walking three and fanning 11 in 11 innings. The 35-year-old southpaw also allowed only two earned runs in his four starts in September. In his lone start against LA in 2024 in New York back on May 28, Quintana had a quality start, giving up three earned runs with no walks and three K's in six innings of work.

New York Mets designated hitter J.D. Martinez is likely to be in the starting lineup for Game 3 of the National League Championship Series on Wednesday at Citi Field against the Los Angeles Dodgers and right-hander Walker Buehler, according to manager Carlos Mendoza. In the first two games of the NLCS, the left-handed-hitting Jesse Winker has gotten the nod for the Mets at DH, but Martinez will make his first start of the series on Wednesday after going 4-for-14 (.286) with three RBI, two walks and a run scored in six games (three starts) in this year's postseason. The 37-year-old has faced Buehler just three times before in his career and has struck out twice. The six-time All-Star hit just .235 (102-for-434) in 120 games for the Mets during the regular season but did provide 16 homers and 69 RBI.

New York Mets closer Edwin Diaz earned a four-out save in Monday's 7-3 victory over the Dodgers, his second save of this postseason. The 30-year-old squashed a potential Dodgers rally in the eighth, coming on with two outs and two baserunners on, getting a flyout to end the threat. The ninth inning had its usual uneasiness for Diaz though, with the first two hitters reaching base, one via hit and one via walk, but Diaz settled down and struck out the next three hitters to close the door on Los Angeles. The veteran closer will want to clean up the 1.93 WHIP through four 2024 postseason appearances to better the Mets' chances of moving on, but 10 strikeouts in four-and-two-thirds IP certainly helps limit potential damage.

New York Mets shortstop Francisco Lindor set the tone in Monday's 7-3 victory over the Dodgers with a leadoff home run. The 30-year-old fought through an eight-pitch at-bat, fouling off three straight two-strike pitches before sending a Ryan Brasier cutter over the fence. The switch hitter finished 1-for-4 with a walk, an RBI, and two runs scored in the contest, which has been much of the same over the course of this postseason. The 4x All-Star has just a .235 average (8-for-34), but with an 8:8 BB:K he's sporting a strong .372 OBP with seven RBI and eight runs scored. He'll look to continue his clutch hitting Wednesday in New York versus Walker Buehler, who he is 1-for-2 off of in his career with the one hit coming via a home run.

New York Mets starting pitcher Sean Manaea improved to 2-0 this postseason across three starts after Monday's 7-3 Game 2 victory over the Dodgers, evening the series 1-1. The southpaw went five innings and although only two hits were allowed, he yielded four walks in the outing while striking seven batters. Three runs were charged to Manaea but only two were earned runs. The 32-year-old concluded the regular season having arguably the best campaign of his career and has parlayed that success into the postseason. Through his three 2024 playoff starts, the veteran is 2-0 with a 2.65 ERA, 1.00 WHIP, and a 15.9% K-BB%. If the series goes at least six games or the Mets head to the World Series, the lefty should receive another start. Either way, his fine regular season that ended with a 1.08 WHIP, 3.97 SIERA, and 9.12 K/9 proved he was still a quality fantasy asset which should carry over to next year.

New York Mets third baseman Mark Vientos stepped up in a big way in the 7-3 win over the Los Angeles Dodgers on Monday in Game 2 of the National League Championship Series at Dodger Stadium to even the series at 1-1. Vientos finished the game 2-for-5 with four RBI and a run scored. The Dodgers walked Francisco Lindor with two outs and two runners on in the second inning with first base open, and Vientos made the Dodgers pay with a grand slam to blow it open early on. The 24-year-old came into this game swinging a hot bat in his first exposure to the playoffs, going 12-for-32 (.375) with two home runs, two doubles, seven RBI, two walks and five runs scored in eight games played. He also had a career year in 2024 in his first full season in the big leagues, slashing .266/.322/.516 with an .837 OPS, 27 homers and 71 RBI in 111 games. The Dodgers might give Vientos a little more respect the rest of the series.

New York Mets right-hander Luis Severino flew ahead of the team back to New York before his Game 3 start against the Los Angeles Dodgers in the National League Championship Series on Wednesday at Citi Field. Severino will head into Wednesday's start after allowing three earned runs in six innings for a quality start and a no-decision in Game 2 of the NL Division Series against the Philadelphia Phillies. He also walked none and struck out seven. He had another quality start in his win in Game 1 of the Wild-Card Series against the Milwaukee Brewers, giving up three earned runs in six innings while walking two and striking out three. Dating back to the final month of the regular season, Severino has quality starts in six of his last seven starts, so he's been pitching well heading into a showdown with one of the best offenses in baseball on Wednesday. Severino didn't face the Dodgers at all in 2024.

Los Angeles Dodgers left-hander Clayton Kershaw (toe) said on the FOX pre-game show before Game 2 of the National League Championship Series on Monday at Dodger Stadium against the New York Mets that he plans to pitch again next year. "Mentally, I feel great. I had shoulder surgery last offseason, and my shoulder and elbow, everything, my arm, feels great. Obviously, I had some tough luck with my foot this year. But I want to make use of this surgery. I don't want to have surgery and shut it down. So I'm gonna come back next year and give it a go and see how it goes," Kershaw said. The 36-year-old three-time Cy Young winner only made seven starts (30 innings) this year after returning from his shoulder surgery and was shut down in late August due to a bone spur in his left big toe. The future Hall of Famer can still be useful when healthy in fantasy, but the injuries are piling up and he's not getting any younger.

Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts confirmed on Monday that right-hander Walker Buehler will make the start in Game 3 of the National League Championship Series on Wednesday at Citi Field against the New York Mets. Buehler will look to be much better than he was his last time out in Game 3 of the NL Division Series against the San Diego Padres last week, when he gave up six runs in five innings without a strikeout. It was a rough 2024 season for the 30-year-old two-time All-Star after returning from Tommy John surgery, as he went 1-6 with a 5.38 ERA (5.54 FIP), a 1.55 WHIP and a 64:28 K:BB in 75 1/3 innings over his 16 starts during the regular season. His strikeout rate (18.6%) was a career-low, while his 8.1% walk rate was his highest mark since his rookie season in 2017. Buehler will certainly be a risky DFS play on the road on Wednesday.

Los Angeles Dodgers rookie outfielder Andy Pages is starting in center field and is batting out of the nine-hole for the Dodgers on Monday in Game 2 of the National League Championship Series against the New York Mets and left-hander Sean Manaea. With Gavin Lux (hip) sitting out, Enrique Hernandez moves to second base, opening up a spot for Pages to make his first career postseason start. In four appearances in this year's playoffs, Pages has gone hitless in his two plate appearances with a strikeout and a run scored. Pages only has faced Manaea twice this year and has a double and a strikeout. The 23-year-old won't have much DFS appeal for Monday's slate while hitting at the bottom of LA's batting order. In his first MLB season, the Cuban outfielder slashed .248/.305/.407 with a .712 OPS, 13 home runs, 46 RBI and 65 runs scored in 116 games and 443 plate appearances.

New York Mets infielder/outfielder Jeff McNeil is absent from the team's starting lineup for Game 2 of the National League Championship Series on Monday at Dodger Stadium against the Los Angeles Dodgers. The Mets will stick with Jose Iglesias at second base, and he will hit seventh. Meanwhile, Starling Marte will make another start in right field and will bat fifth against Dodgers right-handed opener Ryan Brasier. McNeil fractured his right wrist in early September and remained on the injured list during the NL Division Series against the Philadelphia Phillies. The 32-year-old former batting champion came off the bench as a pinch-hitter in the 9-0 loss to the Dodgers in Game 1 and lined out. There's a good chance we'll see McNeil come off the bench at some point as a pinch-hitter again in Game 2. McNeil hit a career-low .238 (101-for-424) with 12 homers, 44 RBI and five steals. The Mets may just use him as a bench bat the rest of the way in 2024.

New York Mets outfielder Brandon Nimmo (foot) said after the loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers in Game 1 of the National League Championship Series on Sunday night that he has been dealing with plantar fasciitis in his left foot since May. Nimmo aggravated the injured in Game 3 of the NL Division Series against the Philadelphia Phillies, but he played in Game 1 of the NLCS against the Dodgers and is starting in left field and batting third on Tuesday for Game 2 against right-handed opener Ryan Brasier. He went 0-for-3 on Sunday night and was pinch hit for in the ninth inning. The injury doesn't bother him much while hitting or throwing, but it gives him pain while running. Through Sunday's Game 1, Nimmo is hitting .241 with a home run, a .353 on-base percentage and a .698 OPS in the postseason. In his only career at-bat against Brasier, Nimmo had an RBI double.

Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said that second baseman Gavin Lux (hip) will be available off the bench but won't play defense for Game 2 of the National League Championship Series on Monday against the New York Mets at Dodger Stadium. The Dodgers are hoping that Lux will be back to full strength after the scheduled off day on Tuesday as the series heads to New York. Enrique Hernandez will make the start at the keystone and hit eighth on Monday against Mets left-hander Sean Manaea. Hip-flexor tightness forced Lux from the Game 1 win early on Sunday night, but he could be back in there against right-hander Luis Severino for Game 3 on Wednesday at Citi Field. Hernandez is on a three-game hit streak in the postseason and has gone 5-for-13 in four games with a homer and RBI. However, he has just one hit and an RBI in 11 career at-bats against Manaea, the Game 2 starter.

Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said that first baseman Freddie Freeman (ankle) is in the starting lineup for Game 2 of the National League Championship Series on Monday at Dodger Stadium against the New York Mets. Freeman is at first base and is batting cleanup against Mets left-hander Sean Manaea. In a 9-0 blowout win over New York in Game 1 on Sunday night, the Dodgers pulled Freeman after seven innings to give him a little extra rest. The 35-year-old veteran has been playing through a right-ankle sprain in the playoffs that he suffered in the last week of the regular season and even skipped Game 4 of the NL Division Series because of the injury. It hasn't really affected his hitting, as Freeman has gone 6-for-17 with an RBI, steal and a run scored in five postseason games. In 17 career at-bats versus Manaea, Freeman has gone 5-for-17 with a homer, two RBI, one walk and four K's.

Los Angeles Dodgers right-hander Ryan Brasier will serve as the opener for Game 2 of the National League Championship Series on Monday at Dodger Stadium against the New York Mets, with manager Dave Roberts saying he expects right-hander Landon Knack to take "most of the outs" as the bulk reliever. Brasier served as the opener in the Game 4 win over the division-rival San Diego Padres in the NL Division Series and threw 1 1/3 scoreless innings while striking out one. He also went 2 1/3 innings in a traditional relief role earlier in the series, allowing two earned runs on three hits while walking none and striking out one. Brasier obviously isn't a viable DFS play as an opener in Game 2. Knack pitched the final inning of the Game 4 win over the Pads and threw a scoreless frame with a strikeout. The 27-year-old went 3-5 with a 3.65 ERA, 1.10 WHIP, 69 K's and 18 walks in 69 innings over his first 15 big-league outings (12 starts) during the regular season.

New York Mets starting pitcher Kodai Senga had a rough outing in Game 1 of the NLCS against the Los Angeles Dodgers on Sunday, taking the loss in a 9-0 defeat. Senga had all kinds of control issues, walking four and throwing a wild pitch in his 1 innings of work. He just didn't have it tonight, which makes sense for a pitcher who had only thrown 7 IP this season between the regular season and playoffs. He can be elite when he's on, but he hasn't quite found that version of himself yet. He could get a chance to redeem himself later in the series, but manager Carlos Mendoza wouldn't confirm that and said they will have to see where Senga is at in the next few days.

Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Mookie Betts delivered a clutch bases-loaded double to put Game 1 of the NLCS out of reach on Sunday. Betts big hit put a cap on a 9-0 onslaught over the New York Mets. He finished the day 1-for-4 with a walk, a double, a run scored, and three RBI. He was somehow the only player on either team to collect an extra-base hit, even though there were 12 hits in total. The 32-year-old has had a solid postseason, hitting two homers, driving in six, and posting a .891 OPS in 22 at-bats. He will look to keep it rolling against Sean Manaea in Game 2 on Monday.

Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Jack Flaherty was at his best on Sunday, tossing seven shutout frames against the New York Mets in Game 1 of the NLCS. Flaherty allowed just two hits (both singles) and two walks while punching out six Mets. The 28-year-old was electric in this one, which is surely a huge relief for him after a subpar outing in the NLDS against the San Diego Padres. Flaherty would be on full rest for Game 5 on Friday and will likely get the ball for that game if necessary.