NLCS Game 4 takeaways: Mets may be out of magic, Dodgers cruise to 3-1 series lead

The Los Angeles Dodgers are one game away from the World Series after defeating the New York Mets, 10-2, in Game 4 of the National League Championship Series on Thursday. They now lead the series 3-1.

Here are three takeaways from the action.

Dodgers stars shined bright in Game 4

In Game 3, the bottom of the Dodgers' lineup pulled much of the weight, but the stars were out for L.A. on Thursday.

Shohei Ohtani started the game with a bang, hitting a leadoff home run in the first inning. He wouldn't get another hit the rest of the game, but scored four runs and walked three times, which No. 2 hitter Mookie Betts made the Mets pay for.

Betts was spectacular, posting perhaps his best game of the postseason. The All-Star outfielder finished 4-of-6 with four RBI and a two-run home run in the sixth inning, which all but sealed the victory for the Dodgers.

Meanwhile, the back half of the order also showed up. Tommy Edman, Enrique Hernandez, Max Muncy, Will Smith and Chris Taylor combined to go 7-of-22 with five RBI and four walks.  

Dave Roberts continues to press the right buttons with pitching staff

Many questioned Roberts' managerial decisions not long ago, but he's pressed the right buttons throughout this postseason. This is especially true when it comes to the Dodgers' pitching staff.

On Thursday, he removed Yoshinobu Yamamoto after a solid 4.1 innings in which the starter posted eight strikeouts while allowing only four hits and two earned runs. While one could argue that Roberts took him out too early, the move worked as Evan Phillips, Blake Treinen, and Edgardo Henriquez combined to pitch 4.2 innings of scoreless baseball, allowing only six hits while striking out four.

Mets may be out of miracles

The Mets' magic is slowly fading away. For the third time this series and the second consecutive game, the Mets looked entirely outclassed by the high-powered Dodgers.

It looked like the Mets still had life early on, answering Dodgers' runs in the first and third innings. But, after that, L.A.'s bats stayed hot while New York's went silent.

After having the potent Philadelphia Phillies lineup flailing helplessly, it's the Mets who look hopeless at the plate, finishing Thursday 0-of-7 with runners in scoring position. They're now 4-of-29 for the series. Meanwhile, the pitching staff has shown little resistance, not only allowing an average of seven runs per game, but having given up 29 walks through 34 innings.