The New York Mets and Los Angeles Dodgers begin their second series of the month on Thursday evening. It’s time to continue our MLB odds series and make a Mets – Dodgers prediction and pick.

Los Angeles currently stands at 75-46 and is 39-20 at home. If you put $100 on every single Dodgers game so far this season, you’d be down $587 on the moneyline.

New York currently stands at 60-60 and is only 24-37 on the road. If you put $100 on every single Mets game so far this season, you’d be down $1,058 on the money line.

Here’s how sportsbooks have set the Mets-Dodgers odds.

MLB Odds: Mets-Dodgers Odds

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New York Mets ML (+170)

Los Angeles Dodgers ML (-180)

Over 9 Runs (-115)

Under 9 Runs (-105)

Why The Mets Could Win This Game

The Mets send Taijuan Walker to the mound on Thursday hoping to build off his success in his last outing against the Dodgers.

The All-Star has pitched to a 3.75 ERA in 22 starts this season and is coming off one of his best outings of the year in which he went 6.2 innings against the Dodgers and only allowed one earned run. He actually no-hit the Dodgers through six innings until Will Smith broke through with a solo shot.

Walker has outstanding numbers against most of the Dodgers big bats. Max Muncy, Justin Turner, Trea Turner, Chris Taylor, and Cody Bellinger are a combined 9-47 at the plate against him, with only three total RBI's.

The factor that will determine success for Walker tonight is his ability to keep the ball in the yard. In the first ten starts of the season, Walker allowed only two homers. He's shown he can limit the long ball, and he'll need to do so tonight against a Dodgers team that hit four home runs Wednesday night and has the fifth most bombs in the MLB.

At the plate, the Mets finally broke out in their last game against the Giants. It took extra innings, but they finally scored more than five runs for the first time in more than a week.

The Mets got nearly a full game against the Giants bullpen Wednesday, one of the best in the league, and pulled out a win. Now they get a shot at a Dodgers bullpen that is strong, but not nearly as strong as their San Francisco rival's.

At some point, this Dodgers bullpen is due for regression. They pitched a ridiculous 16 of 27 innings against the Pirates, and that's not including Mitch White's 7.1 innings Wednesday as the long reliever.

No bullpen in the world can work at this rate and continue to put up shutdown numbers. The Dodgers will need nine innings out of the bullpen for the second time in four days, and it's likely we see the Mets get at least a few runs against a group that should be worn down.

Why The Dodgers Could Win This Game

The Dodgers come in to a brand new series as one of the hottest teams in baseball. Los Angeles has won nine of their last ten games, including a sweep of the Mets less than a week ago.

The most impressive aspect of this run for the Dodgers has easily been the durability of their bullpen. Game after game, guys are coming in for an inning plus of work and shutting down opposing offenses. The Dodgers' bullpen allowed a total of two earned runs in the series against the Pirates despite being forced to throw 16 innings.

We don't know who will start for L.A. Thursday, but it's likely they go inning by inning with a group that has been nails. Thanks to Mitch White's 7.1 inning masterpiece Wednesday, everyone in the bullpen has at least one day of rest with the exception of Justin Bruihl. It's unlikely this group has crooked numbers put up against them, though they might let through a stray run or two.

In the batter's box, the Dodgers get a second shot at Taijuan Walker after facing him five days ago. Walker got the better of them last time, holding the Dodgers lineup to a single run. That feat is unlikely to be replicated.

Walker's home run and walk numbers have been through the roof lately. These are two areas where the Dodgers crush opponents.

Walker has allowed a whopping 11 home runs and 10 walks in his last 27.0 innings of work. The righty has walked at least two batters in four of his last five outings.

The Dodgers draw the second most walks in the league, and see the most pitches per plate appearance. It would be a shock to see Walker go unscathed through six innings tonight. Expect the Dodgers to exact some revenge and get a few runs across at minimum against the Mets' starter.

Final Mets-Dodgers Prediction & Pick

Nearly all signs point to this being a low scoring game. The last seven games the O/U has been set at 9 or higher for the Mets, the under has cashed five times. The Dodgers under in the same span and parameters is 4-1-2.  The under has also cashed in five of the Mets last six road games. Walker should avoid getting shelled, and this L.A. ‘pen, saved by Mitch White's heroic performance last night, should have enough juice to shove. I don't see many runs being put on the board tonight. Play the under.

FINAL METS-DODGERS PREDICTION & PICK: UNDER 9 RUNS (-105)