NLCS Game 6 takeaways: Dodgers crush Mets to set up World Series date with Yankees

For the fourth time in eight years, the Los Angeles Dodgers are headed to the World Series.

On Sunday, Los Angeles closed out the National League Championship Series, securing a 10-5 home win over the New York Mets to advance to the Fall Classic. The Dodgers are set to face the New York Yankees in the World Series for the 12th time in history, with the action set to begin Friday in Los Angeles.

Here are three takeaways from Los Angeles' pennant-clinching victory:

Trade deadline deal for Tommy Edman couldn’t have worked out better

The Dodgers made a number of high-profile acquisitions over the years to construct their star-studded roster, but their low-risk trade deadline deal for Edman proved to be a difference-maker in this series. Los Angeles acquired Edman in a three-team trade with the Chicago White Sox and St. Louis Cardinals in July despite the fact that the utilityman would be out until August due to a wrist injury he suffered last offseason.

Edman was solid for the Dodgers in 37 regular season games, producing a slash line of .237/.294/.417 with six home runs and 20 RBI. While he didn't make much of an impact against the San Diego Padres in the NLDS, Edman came alive against the Mets.

Edman entered Game 6 batting a blistering .409 with nine hits and seven RBI in the series, but with a chance to secure NLCS MVP honors, he saved his best performance for Sunday.

After the Dodgers fell behind 1-0 in the first inning, the 29-year-old got his team on the board in Game 6, hitting a go-ahead two-run double off Mets left-hander Sean Manaea. The Dodgers never gave the lead back to New York, though Edman wasn't done impacting the game.

In the third inning, Edman sent the fifth pitch he saw from Manaea 406 feet to left-center field for a two-run homer, extending Los Angeles' lead to 4-1.

Unsurprisingly, Edman was named the MVP of the NLCS, solidifying himself as one of the best trade deadline acquisitions in recent memory.

Bullpen game doesn’t backfire on Dodgers

Although it wasn't flawless, the Dodgers bullpen fared much better than it did in the team's Game 2 loss to New York and ultimately got the job done on Sunday.

Dodgers manager Dave Roberts has often been criticized for making some questionable moves in October over the years, but the 52-year-old was masterful in Game 6 and deserves his flowers.

Right-hander Michael Kopech, the starter for Los Angeles on Sunday, wasn't sharp, allowing one run on one hit and two walks in the first inning. Nevertheless, although his team trailed in the second inning, Roberts turned to rookie Ben Casparius rather than a high-leverage arm, a risky decision that panned out, as he didn't allow a run in 1.1 innings.

Roberts tried to patch together some more innings with his middle relievers, and while Anthony Banda and Ryan Brasier combined to allow two runs in 2.2 innings, they did enough to get the team to their high-leverage arms.

The Mets continued to put up a fight against RHPs Evan Phillips, Daniel Hudson and Blake Treinen, but in the end, Treinen was able to shut the door on their magical postseason run.

Roberts' bullpen decisions might not make much of a difference in the World Series if the Dodgers average 7.67 runs per game as they did in the NLCS. However, Roberts' impressive managing against the Mets should give Los Angeles and Dodgers fans plenty of confidence heading into a series where they'll throw two more bullpen games.

The Mets didn't have enough to overcome the Dodgers, but their future is as bright as ever

As cliché as it sounds, the better team won this series. The Mets had their opportunities, but their inability to get a big hit with runners in scoring position, coupled with their pitching staff fading against the best lineup in baseball, was too much to overcome.

Even so, this season was undoubtedly a success for the Mets, who weren't expected to do much after finishing 75-87 in 2023, and it's fair to say that their future has never been brighter.

The Mets still have a talented offensive core that showed remarkable resilience throughout the year. They will return most of those pieces next season, including an MVP candidate in Francisco Lindor and rising star third baseman Mark Vientos and have a few intriguing prospects waiting in the minors.

New York has arguably never been in a better spot leadership-wise, too. Manager Carlos Mendoza emerged as one of the better skippers in the game during his first season in the role, helping his team rebound from being 11 games under .500 near the end of May to reach the NLCS.

Additionally, owner Steve Cohen has shown a willingness to invest heavily in his team, and since president of baseball operations David Stearns is running the show, Cohen's money is in good hands.

With just over $173M coming off the books this offseason, Cohen will surely take more massive swings in free agency to fulfill his goal of helping the Mets return to the World Series.