The New York Mets avoided elimination and kept their World Series hopes alive with a 12-6 win over the Los Angeles Dodgers in Game 5 of the National League Championship Series on Friday at Citi Field in New York City.

The Dodgers entered Friday's best-of-seven series with a 3-1 lead over the Mets. New York still needs to win two straight games to clinch the National League pennant. Nevertheless, the team earned at least one more game in the playoffs against Los Angeles.

And the Mets have former Seattle Mariners outfielder Jesse Winker to thank for that fact (in part).

Winker was traded to New York by the Washington Nationals on July 28. And he was one of the best players of the postseason.

Winker only played 44 games for the Mets during the regular season. He hit .243 with three home runs and 13 RBIs.

Winker has made significant improvements for the playoffs.

On Friday, Winker went 2-for-3 with an RBI and scored three runs. His RBI scored a triple.

The 2024 playoffs will be Winker's third postseason trip in his eight-year career. Before these playoffs, Winker played no more than two games and totaled six at-bats.

Winker was with Seattle in 2022. In his only year in the Pacific Northwest, he hit .219 with 14 home runs and 53 RBIs. He helped lead the Mariners to their first postseason berth in 2022 but was on the injured list for the playoffs.

He has played in nine playoff games this year. He went 6-for-19 (.316) with two triples, a home run and four RBIs and scored seven runs. He leads New York in the playoffs with an OPS of 1.203.

New York has three former Seattle players who played important roles in the playoffs this season.

Maybe that can motivate the Mariners to come back in October 2025.

FINAL RATING FROM COLLIN SNIDER: It seemed like Collin Snider would be in the final throes of his major league career before 2024, but now he has secured a role in the back end of the Seattle Mariners bullpen. CLICK HERE

ANALYSIS: COULD YOU FOLLOW MARINERS YOUNG STARS?: Most “realistic” Seattle Mariners offseason projections assume they will pursue mid-tier free agents or trade for older players; However, there may be a possibility of a blockbuster trade. CLICK HERE

FINAL RATING FROM JULIO RODRIGUEZ: Julio Rodriguez had a poor season by his standards, but was still one of the Seattle Mariners' most effective players. CLICK HERE

Continue to follow our Inside the Mariners coverage on social media by liking us on Facebook and following Teren Kowatsch and Brady Farkas on “X” @Teren_Kowatsch and @.wdevradiobrady. You can subscribe to the podcast “Refuse to Lose” with just one click HERE.