Mets vs. Dodgers Preview, Predictions and Betting Odds – Friday, May 23, 2025

The Mets and Dodgers meet for the first time since last year’s NLCS

A familiar postseason matchup returns to the spotlight this weekend as the New York Mets host the Los Angeles Dodgers in a three-game series at Citi Field, starting tonight.

The two teams last clashed in October, when the Dodgers ended the Mets’ miraculous playoff run with a Game 6 victory in the NLCS. Los Angeles rode that momentum all the way to a World Series title, knocking off the Yankees in five games to claim the franchise’s eighth championship. This time, too, the odds are as close as they can get.

Here is our predictions and betting odds for this revenge game from last year NLCS.

Fast forward to 2025, and both clubs remain legitimate contenders in the National League. The Dodgers (31–19) enter the weekend tied with the Phillies for the most wins in the NL.

However, the Dodgers are just recovering after losing four straight (which is how you can define struggle in Dodger Land) with a series win against Arizona, while the Mets (30–20) are just 1.5 games behind Philadelphia in the NL East after hitting a recent speed bump.

Friday’s Mets vs. Dodgers is scheduled for 7:10 p.m. ET, streaming exclusively on Apple TV+.

Mets vs Dodgers Preview

Clayton Kershaw will take the mound for Los Angeles, looking to bounce back from a rocky season debut in which he allowed five earned runs and three walks over four innings. On the other side, New York counters with Griffin Canning, who’s been sharp out of the gate. The right-hander boasts a 5–1 record with a 2.47 ERA and 46 strikeouts this season.

Offensively, the Mets have cooled off after a torrid April. Pete Alonso’s bat has quieted, Brandon Nimmo continues to scuffle, and Juan Soto has yet to truly take over a game. Much of the burden now falls on Francisco Lindor and the middle of the lineup to re-ignite the offense.

Meanwhile, the Dodgers have stayed afloat thanks to their relentless lineup, even as injuries have thinned out their pitching staff. Their offense has repeatedly carried them through close games.

ALSO READ: Third Straight Loss for Mets Comes With a Side of Drama and a Steve Cohen Message

Mets vs Dodgers Betting Odds

According to BetMGM, the Dodgers are favorites in the first clash at Citi Field.

Dodgers odds to win: -120
Mets odds to win: +100
Spread: Dodgers -1.5
Total: 8.5

Team	Spread	Total (8.5)	Money Line
Dodgers	-1.5 (+140)	Over 8.5 (-115)	-120
Mets	+1.5 (-165)	Under 8.5 (-105)	+100

Mets vs. Dodgers Predictions

Despite a rough start to the season, Clayton Kershaw’s pedigree makes him a constant threat to settle in quickly, especially against a Mets line-up that has struggled for consistency. However, with Griffin Canning dealing early this year, the Mets could keep things tighter than the spread suggests. Still, the Dodgers’ bats may find just enough edge.

Score prediction: Dodgers 5 – Mets 4
Total prediction: Over 8.5 runs

Win probabilities:

Dodgers: ~54.5%
Mets: ~45.5%

Mohsin Baldiwala

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Mohsin Baldiwala is a Master’s student in Journalism and freelance content producer who got hooked on baseball through Seinfeld’s hapless George Costanza. The same reason why he’s a Yankees fan. He writes about sports because he believes it can offer a brief escape from the world’s chaos. Even if that means enduring the heartbreak of the 2024 World Series.