NEW YORK (AP) — “Big Spender” is the theme song for baseball’s last four games.
The New York Mets, New York Yankees and Los Angeles Dodgers enter the League Championship Series with the three best payrolls in the sport, joined by Cleveland at 23rd.
“You have to scratch and claw, make comparisons, make moves, shoot and hope it works,” Guardians manager Stephen Vogt said. “Whereas for the other three teams, for the majority, they establish their lineup and go play.”
THE Mets-Dodgers National League Championship Series begins Sunday and the Yankees-Guardians American League game starting Monday features some of baseball’s biggest stars, including Shohei Ohtani, Mookie Betts, Aaron Judge, Juan Soto, Francisco Lindor and Pete Alonso. Cleveland has the best closer in Emmanuel Clase and a better hitter in José Ramírez.
The playoff pairings bring to the forefront the question of whether spending equals success.
“Obviously spending more gives you a better chance — you attract more players,” Mets reliever Adam Ottavino said. “But obviously it didn’t always work out that way.”
The Mets have the highest payroll at $332 million, followed by the Yankees at $311 million and the Dodgers at $266 million, according to Major League Baseball’s latest projections (final numbers won’t be calculated until the winter, once all bonuses have been determined). Guardians is at $109 million.
“I don’t think about payroll,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said. “I’m thinking about our 26 guys and beating the Mets. That’s it.”
Texas Last year, the team was sixth with $241 million when it won the World Series against Arizona, which was 20th with $129 million.
The only big spenders to have won titles since the start of the current luxury tax are Dodgers 2020, Red Sox 2018 and 2009 Yankees. Boston has won twice with a top-three payroll, as the second-biggest spender in 2004 and 2007, and third in 2013.
Seven of the last 21 champions have had a payroll outside the top 10: the Braves 2021 (14th), Astros 2017 (18th), Royals 2015 (13th), 2011 Cardinals (11th), 2010 Giants (11th), 2005 White Sox (13th) and 2003 Marlins (20th).
“As far as payroll goes, at the end of the day it’s about playing good baseball,” said San Diego manager Mike Shildt, whose team ranked 15th and lost to Los Angeles in a five-game series.
The Dodgers and Mets will meet in the postseason for the fourth time after the 1988 NLCS won by Los Angeles and the 2006 and 2015 NLDS won by New York. The 1988 game featured Dodgers pitcher Jay Howell being ejected in Game 3 for having pine tar on his glove and the 2015 NLDS was spoiled by the Dodgers. Chase Utley breaks shortstop Ruben Tejada’s leg while trying to break up a double play. MLB responded by banning rolling body blocks before the 2016 season.
After the Mets won two of three games at Dodger Stadium in April, Los Angeles swept New York at Citi Field in late May, forcing a tie. meeting reserved for players that sparked New York’s turnaround after a 22-33 start.
Jack Flaherty starts the first game for the Dodgers and Kodai Senga for the Mets, in just his third appearance of an injury-filled season. Sean Manaea pitches Game 2 for New York, which got three days off by beat Philadelphia in a four-game series.
Dodgers All-Star first baseman Freddie Freeman, playing with a sprained right ankle, finished 4-for-14 with no RBIs in the NLDS.
Cleveland and the Yankees will be playing in the playoffs for the seventh time. Cleveland won the Division Series in 1997 and 2007, and lost the 1998 ALCS, the Division Series in 2017 and ’22, and the wild-card round in 2020. The Yankees were four outs from advancing in 1997 before Sandy Alomar’s game-tying homer off Mariano Rivera in Game 4. title in 1996 and won three more between 1998 and 2000.
Two years ago, Cleveland’s Josh Naylor angered Yankees fans with his baby rocking celebration of a home run against Gerrit Cole in Game 4.
New York won two of three in Cleveland in April and also at home in August. Having beat Kansas City in a four-game ALDSthe Yankees could go with Carlos Rodón in Game 1 and Cole in Game 2. Cleveland, who beat Detroit in Game 5 on Saturdaycould accompany Alex Cobb in the first match.
“Obviously, a great bullpen,” Yankees manager Aaron Boone said. “Athletic. They defend very well. They are quite balanced in their attack.”
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AP Sports Writer Tom Withers in Cleveland and AP Freelance Writer Jerry Beach in New York contributed to this report.
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