3 reasons why the Mets could be a handful for the Dodgers this weekend

The Mets can beat the Dodgers because Pete Alonso is on a tear, and he loves playing in L.A.

Until Pete Alonso finally signs an extension with the Mets, there'll be no end to the constant trade speculation he's endured. It's commendable though, that through it all, Alonso has continued to do what he does best: hit the baseball really hard.

The Polar Bear won Player of the Week for his performance in the second week of the season, and he already has six homers to go along with an OPS over .900. He's been protected in the lineup by the hot hitting of Brett Baty, which has allowed him to take advantage of getting more pitches to hit.

You wouldn't think a polar bear would like it in California, but Alonso has always loved traveling west to play the Dodgers. In his career at Chavez Ravine, the power-hitting first baseman has seven homers in 15 games, but he's been more than just a slugger, as his 22 hits and .349 average in these games prove.

The mainstays on the Mets have been very hot and cold to start the season. Francisco Lindor is trying to pull himself out of an awful slump, while Francisco Alvarez hasn't yet displayed the power he's capable of. Jeff McNeil and Brandon Nimmo have had some timely hits, but both are hitting under .220. Baty and Starling Marte have looked much better than last year, but at the end of the day, this lineup goes where Pete Alonso takes it. If he can continue his torrid start to the year, the Mets could easily walk out of L.A. with a series win.