It's going to feel like 1988 again. Maybe

 The National League Championship Series is now set, and it's a rematch from 1988, as the Mets will face the Los Angeles Dodgers.

To be fair, no one expected the Mets to get this far, but the addition of veteran infielder Jose Iglesias, now moonlighting as a singer in his spare time, and riding a promotional appearance by McDonald's mascot Grimace at Citi Field, have gotten Carlos Mendoza's club to the NLCS for the first time since 2015. They defeated two divisional champions in Milwaukee and Philadelphia to get here, and taking down perennial NL West champion Los Angeles? That would be icing on the cake.

But, these are not the Dodgers of Tom Lasorda, Orel Herschiser, and friends, any more than these would be a reincarnation of the Keith Hernandez-Gary Carter-Darryl Strawberry Mets of the mid-to-late 80's These Dodgers, in the last two offseasons, acquired Freddie Freeman, long a Met killer from his days in Atlanta, and Shohei Ohtani, whose otherworldly performance this season has all but assured another MVP award, absent a late surge for the Mets' Francisco Lindor.

As for how the Dodgers got here? Check this.

As with the Brewers & Phillies, the Dodgers dominated the regular season series vs. the Mets, but this is not the same Mets team they saw in the spring, not by any stretch. Kodai Senga missed most of the season, save for a spot start in September, and made a cameo appearance in the NLDS. He's going to pitch in the NLCS, facing his countryman Ohtani, to be sure. The Dodgers went the full 5 vs. San Diego, and they should be prepared for a likely 7 game series with the Mets.

A friend asked me the other day if there was a chance for another Subway Series between the Mets & Yankees. Those chances are getting stronger every day.

That said.......

The Pick: Mets in 7.

Of course, I could be wrong.