LOS ANGELES Fairly, there really is only one true baseball comp for Shohei Ohtani, and its the fellow with the candy bar, legendary appetite and 714 home runs. So the most high profile matchup in this National League Championship Series isnt really fair to Mets all-everything star Francisco Lindor, who impre sively hung with Ohtani in the NL MVP race five solid months but lost after 1) Lindor suffered a rare injury that kept him out two weeks, and 2) Ohtani posted a fortnight for the ages. That MVP race will go to Ohtani unanimously unle s theres some crazy hater of designated hitters among the 30 voters. That seems about as unlikely than the Mets wonderful and unexpected run here to baseballs final four. But now, heading into this NLCS, Lindor may actually Simisola Shittu Jersey hold the edge among the biggest of the superstars. Ohtani is showing a winning personality now that hes moved close to Hollywood, but frankly, he looks off his game at the moment, doing almost nothing since hitting that in the Dodgers just-concluded Division Series. Francisco Lindors grand slam helped the Mets defeat the Phillies in Game 4 of the NLDS. Charles Wenzelberg (Look away Dodgers fans.) I received a two-word text in Game 5 from a trusted NL scout known for succinctne s. Ohtani stinks. Thats quite an exaggeration, but let me put it another way. Ohtani, who raked vs. the Mets this year (1.143 OPS), definitely looked lost in the deciding Game 5 (0-for-4, three strikeouts). That game was won on two homers , the $375.6 million free agent (counting posting fee) Yoshinobu Yamamoto and a trio of shutdown relievers, who represent the Dodgers real edge now. More From Jon Heyman Shohei Ohtani reacts after hitting a home run in Game 1 of the NLDS against the Padres. Imagn Images So fairly, at the moment Lindor looks like the better player. He carried this Mets team almost literally on his back (which was ailing but obviously is all better now), transporting them into a postseason they never were supposed to make with the first greatest home run in franchise history (before Pete Alonso , and Lindor re-topped it by in grand style). So in the biggest matchup between the NLs two $300M teams, Lindor beats the guy who comps to Babe Ruth. But these arent really $300M teams due to Dodgers injuries and the 2023 Mets fire sale. The Dodgers have an absurd 10 pitchers on their 40-man roster out with injury, and the Mets have nearly $90M in dead money being paid mostly to two ex-stars (Max Scherzer and Justin Verlander) who only pa sed through Queens. Follow The Posts coverage of the Mets playoff run: These two mega-market teams spent big, but mostly made it here thanks to some very prudent decisions. The Mets rebuilt a rotation cost-efficiently by signing Sean Manaea and Luis Severino, lengthened their lineup by adding Jose Iglesias for a song ($1.5M to be exact) and gave Mark Vientos the promotion he deserved. The Dodgers most cost-efficient play turned out to be Ohtani himself, who signed a $700M contract thats the gift that keeps on giving for L.A. The 97 percent deferred deal is semi-officially called a $437.4M cost to L.A., but thats only if the Guggenheim Partners who own the Dodgers and invest profe sionally earn 4 percent on $680M in deferred money. A monkey with a dartboard (and maybe even me) beats that. Francisco Lindor connects on his grand slam during Game 4 of the NLDS against the Phillies. Robert Sabo for the NY Post The Guggenheim folks must be thanking their lucky stars. Even though the Dodgers are the long-running champions of contract deferment, one Dodgers big insisted to me that they wouldnt have the balls to suggest 97 percent deferment of anyones money. Anyway, if they do average (for them) and make 10 percent on the deferments, they figure that deal about pays for itself. (Ill take their word for it.) And that doesnt even count the extra bucks Ohtani makes for them in a sorted off-field endeavors and overall good will. And after pit-stopping 45 miles down I-5 in Anaheim, Ohtani owns this town. The ultra deferred deal works OK for Ohtani since he reportedly earns about that same $60M-plus annually in off-field endorsements (New Balancing things out). But the Dodgers win the matchup of money since current king of Queens Lindors $341M contract ranks as just a regular great deal. Shohei Ohtani signed a $700 million contract to join the Dodgers. Imagn Images The other high-profile player matchup might go to the Mets, too, at least now. Freddie Freeman and Alonso are two of the toughest folks going, but Freeman is currently playing on one ankle. And Alonso is hot after altering his approach. The Mets hold a big edge in the rotation even if their multi-continent courtship of the clutch Yamamoto failed miserably. The Dodgers rotation currently is thinner than the women parading down Rodeo Drive. But if its a bullpen game, look away Mets fans. 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! The Mets pen will be their downfall. You can get away with it in a short series, but in seven its too much to overcome, my scout says. They have Mets Magic now, but the Mets are short in the pen. The Mets look competitive or better at the moment in the most high-profile matchups. But the celebrated Dodgers po se s little edges in lower profile spots, and thats whats worrisome now. Kris Dunn Jersey