LOS ANGELES — Dodger Stadium was not only the site of Jeff McNeil‘s first Major League Baseball game as a kid, but it was also where he and his wife, Tatiana, took their son Lucas for his first baseball game a little more than two years ago when the Mets’ infielder/outfielder played in the All-Star Game shortly after he was born. Sunday afternoon, Chavez Ravine will be the site of their daughter Serena’s first game when the Mets face the Dodgers in the start of the NLCS. “Grew up going to games here, I was a Dodger fan growing up and it means a lot to play in this ballpark,” McNeil said Sunday afternoon before Game 1. I remember when I got called up in 2018 this is one of the first places I got to play. It was pretty cool and special for me to play in this ballpark. Have a bunch of great memories here as well. And I think my family is going to have some pretty good memories as well.” McNeil is back in action after missing the first two rounds of the playoffs with a fractured wrist. One of the core homegrown hitters, the 2022 NL batting champ was able to get ready for the Championship Series by rehabbing a few hours north of Los Angeles at his Central Coast home while waiting out the final weeks of Tatiana’s pregnancy, and then by playing in Arizona Fall League games over the weekend. He’s a huge weapon for the Mets in a series like this, especially off the bench in the first few games. McNeil not only brings positional versatility with his ability to play second base and both corner outfield spots at a high level defensively, but his left-handed bat off the bench could complicate things for the pitching-strapped Dodgers. Anthony Banda is the only left-hander in the Los Angeles bullpen with Alex Vesia injured, so Dave Roberts might have to use him against the top of the order. The Mets have switch-hitter Francisco Lindor leading off, Mark Vientos — who crushes left-handed pitching — behind him and lefty Brandon Nimmo at No. 3. Use Banda to get the top of the order out during the middle innings and the Mets count bring up McNeil later to force an unfavorable pitching matchup for the home team, especially since he can hit up and down the lineup and in just about every situation with his consistent approach. “In a seven-game series, it’s going to be a battle of the bench, especially against a lot of the righties that they’ve got,” said manager Carlos Mendoza. “He allows me to be more aggressive with some of the other guys and still have him available with his versatility. And like I said, who knows? He could get a start too, and he might be getting the biggest at-bat of the series at some point.” The addition of McNeil allows Mendoza to be more aggressive with Luisangel Acuña on the basepaths. “There were situations in the past series where I could have been more aggressive with pinch-running, but I couldn’t empty the bench that early,” Mendoza said. “So with this move, obviously we are a little deeper from the position player side, and then it will allow me to, hopefully, be a little more aggressive.” Mendoza told McNeil to be ready for just about anything. That’s the kind of player the “Squirrel” is to begin with. Around this part of California, the term “Dirtbag” is tossed around as a compliment to scrappy, energetic players that can give teams good at-bats, cause problems on the base paths and play solid defense. McNeil played college ball at nearby Long Beach State, where the program is called the Dirtbags for that style of play. His struggles at the plate appeared to be behind him when he was hit by a pitch on his wrist Sept. 7, having posted a .923 OPS in the second half. The Fall League at-bats came against some hard throwers and he was able to take a lot of pitches without pain in his wrist. McNeil wants to hit, oftentimes getting upset with himself if he isn’t going 4-for-4 in a game. While that hasn’t always endeared him to every teammate in the clubhouse, he wants to hit so bad that he won’t let himself fail. The Mets will take all of the weapons they can to take on the vaunted Dodgers. “Like I said, I think a little over a month ago, if I was playing again, it’s a good thing,” McNeil said. “Happy to be back. Happy to be contributing in the NLCS.”