Dodgers' commanding NLCS lead over Mets has satisfying Padres narrative turn

With what turned out to be an easy 10-2 win over the Mets in NLCS Game 4, the Dodgers took a commanding 3-1 lead in the series to send their odds of making it to the World Series skyrocketing. The Mets put up a good fight through the first three innings — Shohei Ohtani hit a leadoff home run, and then Mark Vientos answered in the same inning — before squandering every single runners-on opportunity presented to them after that.

The Dodgers have now outscored the Mets by 20 runs in this series, and suddenly it seems like all of the magic from New York's Cinderella story run is finally running out. LA is just using their bullpen as batting practice for the World Series at this point.

It's a stunning and refreshing change of pace for the Dodgers after their slog through the LDS against the Padres, who at least put up a much better and much more thrilling fight than the Mets have been.

Even though it means a World Series appearance, taking down the Mets won't feel nearly as good as good as taking down the Padres did. And the Friar faithful are still clearly butt-hurt about it, because the top three markets for the LCS go as follows: LA at 33%, New York at 25%, and who other than San Diego at 21%. And that was through Game 3. Just imagine how many Pads fans tuned in on Thursady hoping the Mets would tie it up.

Dodgers-Mets NLCS ratings reveal Padres fans are still seething over LDS exit at LA's hands

Padres fans and Mets fans have pretty much no reason to feel any kind of way about the other, but clearly the entire city of San Diego donned Grimace suits as soon as the Mets knocked out the Phillies in their LDS and the Padres were shown the door. Well, even if they haven't taken it that far, they're definitely only tuning in to see the Dodgers meet their end. What a beautiful thing it is, to know that Padres fans will only be disappointed once again.

The Dodgers just need a single win in three more games to take on either the Yankees or Guardians in the World Series, while the Mets will have to crawl their way up and take three straight from LA to keep their title hopes alive.

Through these four games, two of which were shutouts of the Mets, it looks like the Dodgers have completely stomped out all of their gimmick-fueled hopes. Down goes Grimace, and he's taking all of the hate-watching Padres fans with him.