Surging Mets suddenly look comparable to Shohei Ohtanis Dodgers in ea

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LOS ANGELES  In the early tale of the tape between MLBs two best-paid* teams (see below for explanation of exactly whos first and whos second), the transition-time Mets look shockingly comparable to the overwhelming World Series-favored Dodgers.  The suddenly streaking Mets are maybe even a little better so far.  A rundown of key categories actually gives a slight and surprising edge to the Mets, who arrived here early Thursday morning for a three-game series feeling pretty good about themselves. Here goes.  Record  : The Dodgers were 12-9 coming in, the Mets 10-8. It couldnt be closer considering the Dodgers played three more games.  Edge: Even.  Strength of schedule  : The Mets have only played teams that are .500 or better  18 for 18!  while the Dodgers have played only losers save for a three-game series with the Cubs, which they lost.  Edge: Mets.  Overall performance  : The Mets had a plus-14 run differential, the Dodgers plus-12. Yep, the celebrity-studded Dodgers are playing no better than the team from Queens, who are aiming for 2025 and beyond.  Edge: Even.  David Stearns Mets have kept pace with the Dodgers to start the 2024 season.  Corey Sipkin for the NY Post  More From  Jon Heyman  Recent play  : The Mets are shockingly hot. Since starting 0-5, they were 10-3, and they into their series. The Dodgers had lost five of seven, all against teams with losing records.  Edge: Mets.  Mood  : The Mets are flying high after a happy cro s-country trip, confounding all the folks whod already given up on them (not me). The Dodgers cant be thrilled considering Las Vegas saw them as a winner of more than 110 games.  Edge: Mets.  Payroll*  : The Mets technically have the highest payroll for competitive balance purposes at $345M to the Dodgers $326M (via Cots Baseball Contracts), but discounting all the Mets dead money being paid to future and , the Dodgers actually po se s the best-paid players.  Edge: Even.  Scandal  : Heres one category in which theres no comparison. I had to check with The Posts Mike Puma if there were any Mets scandals of note, and the best we could come up with was Francisco Alvarezs newly hired agent in Luis Rodriguez Jersey  Bad Bunnys agency due to claims of luring clients with improper benefits. Bunnys agency i sued a statement that they are built on integrity and will fight this while Alvarez declined to comment when approached by a Post reporter about whether he hired the Bunny due to under-the-table payments.  Shohei Ohtanis interpreter allegedly stole $16M from him to pay off gambling debts.  Getty Images  If true, this is obviously wrong, but its a story that understandably hasnt captured much attention, unlike the Dodgers scandal. You know, the one that broke exactly on Game 1 of international superstar Shohei Ohtanis record $700M contract. Federal authorities are saying Ohtanis longtime interpreter and bestie to pay off crazy gambling debts (and not even all of them, as the interpreter, , according to the feds).  See Also  The great Ohtani appears to be the victim, but many questions remain, such as how his financial people failed to notice that 16 very large disappeared and how he didnt see his besties outsized interest in other sporting events. Ohtani i sued a statement but, like Alvarez, isnt otherwise talking.  Edge: Dodgers (for sheer interest).  Thats really the singular area where the Dodgers have outdone the Mets (and everyone else, too). While the distraction hasnt impacted Ohtanis typically brilliant performance, the scandal has partly obscured the spotlight from one of the greatest rosters of talent ever a sembled, including also MLBs most-coveted free agent pitcher, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, who . (One Dodgers person told me their 103.5 Over/Under was way low, in spring, and I nodded.)  While Ohtani and especially the remarkable Mookie Betts are outperforming even their own sky-high expectations, perhaps we shouldnt be shocked the Dodgers pitching staff has been second-division level with a full rotation on the injured list. Hot-shot youngster Bobby Miller recently joined all-time great Clayton Kershaw plus Walker Buehler, Dustin May, Emmet Sheehan and Tony Gonsolin in sick bay.  Luis Severino has compiled a 2.14 ERA through his first four starts with the Mets.  Robert Sabo for the NY Post  The Mets lost ace Kodai Senga but, thanks to prescient pickups, are easily out-pitching the Dodgers. , and Sean Manaea and Adrian Houser look solid, but their two best pitchers so far are guys who didnt even make the club out of spring training.  Mets baseball president David Stearns he saw this team as playoff caliber, and while he didnt repeat that remark in a phone interview, he also isnt backing away from it.  The guys are playing with energy, Stearns said. Its a good group and were getting contributions from a wide array of players on our roster.  Delivering insights on all things Amazins  Sign up for Inside the Mets by Mike Puma, exclusively on Sports+  Thank you  By clicking above you agree to the and .  Enjoy this Post Sports+ exclusive newsletter!  Veteran and Jose Butto, often viewed as trade bait in past years, are authoring brilliant starts after failing to make the team in spring. Stearns chalked this up to the teams very solid depth, and thats fair.  In the competition between baseballs two best-compensated teams, the underdog 2024 Mets  known for their depth and dead money  are at least so far keeping pace with the made-for-Hollywood Dodgers.  Jose Quijada Jersey