The MLB postseason has given us everything you could want and the NLCS should be no different.
Stellar pitching performances, high-leverage situations and major drama have all featured in good measure. The numbers show that those ingredients turn October into must-see baseball.
With the NLCS underway and two powerhouse teams in the New York Mets and Los Angeles Dodgers, an average of 8.5 million viewers across Fox, Fox Deportes, and streaming made it the most watched LCS Game 1 on any network since 2009.
Anthony Dicomo, who covers the Mets for MLB.com added there was a peak of 10.1 million viewers on Fox.
The Dodgers also played in the NLCS in 2009, as they have seven other times since then. But the Mets represent one of the best possible matchups from a viewership perspective as another major market powerhouse.
The Dodgers put on a 9-0 shutout in Game 1 against the Mets after Mookie Betts went 3-for-4 and Kike Hernández showed up in October like he usually does with two hits of his own. Shohei Ohtani is also the master of hitting with runners in scoring position. Jack Flaherty finished his start striking out six in seven innings and giving up only two hits and just as many walks.
Mets starter Kodei Senga didn’t have command and the Dodgers jumped on him quickly.
Things evened out in Game 2 thanks for Francisco Lindor’s offensive heroics and Sean Manaea tossing a gem when he struck out seven batters over five-plus innings in his start.
The two teams are not only prepped for the playoffs, but their fanbases are too. The amount of money and talent that was poured into these teams over the last couple of seasons show exactly why they are on the big stage. And they’re delivering the ratings that Fox and Major League Baseball have to be incredibly happy with.
About Jessica Kleinschmidt
Jess is a baseball fan with Reno, Nev. roots residing in the Bay Area. She is the host of "Short and to the Point" and is also a broadcaster with the Oakland A's Radio Network. She previously worked for MLB.com and NBC Sports Bay Area.