The Mets marched through two aces on their way to the National League Championship Series, and when they arrived there, two more awaited them. Their reward for surviving one dominant lefty-righty pair was the challenge of doing it again.
They responded to Jon Lester at Citi Field the same way they did to Clayton Kershaw and Zack Greinke at Dodger Stadium. The Mets did not trounce Lester, but they did just enough damage — including the requisite Daniel Murphy homer — that their own ace could take care of the rest.
This is the Mets’ October formula, and it worked to perfection against the Chicago Cubs in Game 1 on Saturday.