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The New York Mets will take on the Los Angeles Dodgers on Thursday night. It's time to continue our MLB odds series and make a Mets-Dodgers prediction and pick.
This series is between two of the very best teams in the entire MLB. The Mets are currently 35-17, a record that has gotten them a stranglehold on the NL East. The Atlanta Braves are in second place in the division, and they're already a full ten games out of first place. The Dodgers are 33-17, but they don't quite have the division lead that New York does. Both the San Diego Padres and the San Francisco Giants are within striking distance of first place, making every game incredibly important. This should be one of the best games of the night, so let's get straight into the pick.
Here are the Mets-Dodgers MLB odds, courtesy of FanDuel.
MLB Odds: Mets-Dodgers Odds
New York Mets: +1.5 (-137)
Los Angeles Dodgers: -1.5 (+114)
Over: 8.5 (-118)
Under: 8.5 (-104)
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Why The Mets Could Cover The Spread
The Mets will count on starting pitcher Taijuan Walker in this game. That's something that has worked out well this season, as shown by Walker's 2.83 ERA and 1.26 WHIP. Surprisingly, Walker has also been a better pitcher on the road. He sees his ERA and his WHIP drop while only allowing a .227 batting average to his opponents. It helps that the Dodgers will enter this game with absolutely no offensive momentum. Los Angeles has struggled at the plate recently, scoring more than four runs only once in their last five games.
The Dodgers aren't just lacking offensive momentum. They've had all the wind taken out of their sails after being swept by the lowly Pittsburgh Pirates at home. Los Angeles hadn't been swept the entire season, but for some reason, the Pirates just seemed to have their number. Meanwhile, the Mets come into this game with all the momentum a team could ask for. New York has won four of their last five series, including six consecutive wins coming into this contest.
Why The Dodgers Could Cover The Spread
Despite their recent offensive struggles, the Dodgers still maintain one of the best offenses in the entire MLB. Los Angeles ranks well within the top ten in batting average, slugging percentage, OBP, and OPS. A whopping six players in the lineup own a batting average of .250 or higher, including star outfielder Mookie Betts, who is currently hitting .306 with 16 home runs. This Los Angeles lineup is also the best in the league in terms of plate discipline, which is perfect for this matchup. Walker tends to be a bit wild, and the Dodger should be able to take advantage of that fact.
Los Angeles has one of their more reliable arms on the mound in this game. Tony Gonsolin has quietly been one of the best pitchers in the entire MLB, earning a 1.80 ERA and a .93 WHIP. Those numbers are over nine full starts, making them some of the most impressive statistics in the league. Only two Mets hitters have ever faced Gonsolin, making this an even better matchup for the righty.
Final Mets-Dodgers Prediction & Pick
Neither side of the spread looks great here. If you're insistent on picking a team, the Dodgers get the nod. However, the under is the best overall pick. Gonsolin and Walker have both been fantastic, and they should be able to keep this a low-scoring affair for much of the contest. That should be enough to cash the under.
Final Mets-Dodgers Prediction & Pick: Under: 8.5 (-118)
