Orel Hershiser after striking out the final Met to win Game 7 of the ’88 NLCS. Photo: Major League Baseball.

UPDATE: I’m keeping this post at the top of the blog roll on the chance the Dodgers don’t clinch the series in New York and there is a Game 5 here on Thursday 🙂

The Dodgers and Metro are urging everyone to arrive early whether taking the bus to the game or driving.

It’s a rematch of the great 1988 playoff series between the Dodgers and Mets. Attentive readers will recall that Los Angeles won that series in seven games, which propelled them to the World Series and a huge win over the Bash Brothers of Oakland in five games. (UPDATE: we just received word that the teams apparently met in the 2006 post-season, too).

Expect monster crowds. Games 1 and 2 against the Mets are at Dodger Stadium on Friday at 6:30 p.m. and Saturday at 6 p.m. The games will be sold out and parking and traffic will be tough for those driving.

There is a good transit alternative: the Dodger Stadium Express bus. The Dodger Stadium Express IS FREE and runs to the ballpark from two locations: Los Angeles Union Station in downtown Los Angeles (and there is a bus lane) and from Harbor Gateway Transit Center in Artesia. The important details:

•Rides ARE FREE to those holding game tickets.

•At Union Station, fans can catch the Dodger Stadium Express on the Alameda Street side of Union Station — look for the signs. You can exit the bus at Dodger Stadium at one of two stops – behind Center Field and at the Top Deck. Service will pick up at the same stops after the game. Union Station is served by Metro Rail (Red, Purple and Gold Lines), Metrolink, Amtrak and numerous bus lines. Parking at Union Station costs $6.

•The buses from Harbor Gateway (Bay 9) will use the ExpressLanes on the 110 freeway to help speed up travel to games and will also be stopping at the following Harbor Transitway stations: Rosecrans, Harbor Freeway, Manchester and Slauson. You’ll be dropped off behind Right Field. Service back to the South Bay will pick up at the same stop after the game. Return service begins five minutes after the final out.

•Union Station is the primary transit hub for the region and is served by the Metro Red/Purple Line subway, the Metro Gold Line, the Silver Line, numerous Metro Bus lines, Amtrak and Metrolink. Please click here for Metro maps and timetables of every rail and bus line. Here is the Metro trip planner (many riders prefer Google Transit).

Have a great time, Dodger fans! If L.A. gets past the Mets, the Dodgers will face either the Cardinals, Pirates or Cubs in the NLCS. I don’t know about you, but a Jake Arrieta vs. Kershaw/Greinke series sounds mighty tasty.