If your favorite baseball team isn't playing tonight, make the games more interesting by betting on MLB odds at BookMaker Sportsbook! This is the only online wagering outlet that offers early MLB moneylines, runlines and totals. First pitch for the game between the Los Angeles Dodgers and New York Mets is scheduled for Sunday, August 6, 2017, at 8:05 p.m. ET at Citi Field. The matchup can be seen live on ESPN.
The Los Angeles Dodgers are the best team in baseball and—on top of that—were one of a handful of big winners at the non-waiver trade deadline. This team is equipped to make a deep run in the post season and have been rolling past the competition for a couple months now. They’ll aim to continue to do that on Sunday, wrapping up a series against the dysfunctional New York Mets.
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ODDS ANALYSIS
The Dodgers have won nine in a row and are 48-11 since May 25. Los Angeles is on a historic run and with a .708 winning percentage, they are far and away the best team in baseball.
Along with such a great record, the Dodgers are also boasting a run differential of 186, justifying their amazing winning percentage.
To further add insult to injury, the Dodgers are 14-2 in the second half. The Mets are 9-9 since the break, but were swept by the Dodgers in four during their last series and were outscored 36-11.
The Mets are also a weaker team now as the bullpen is without Addison Reed who was dealt to Boston.
New York is now looking elsewhere for saves. A.J. Ramos is a proven closer, but he didn’t look good in his Mets debut.
PROBABLE PITCHERS
Steven Matz starts for the Mets on Sunday night and he has been terrible since tossing his second straight seven-inning shutout on July 3. In five starts since that day, Matz is 0-3 and the Mets are 1-4 in his starts. His ERA in that stretch is 11.78, allowing 24 runs—all earned—in just 18.1 innings.
Prior to his rough patch, Matz had a 2.12 ERA through his first five starts of the year. His ERA is now at 5.50. He’s also allowed 10 homers in 52.1 innings and has given up 66 hits and struck out just 36 batters. Interestingly, the only solid number for Matz right now is a reasonably low walk rate. The young southpaw hasn’t been missing the zone, just his spots within the zone.
Over his young career, Matz has faced L.A. three times with success. He’s 2-0 in those games with a 2.50 ERA, giving up five runs on 11 hits and eight walks in 18 innings.
For the Dodgers, Hyun-Jin Ryu will get the start as he tries to prove he deserves to stay in the rotation once Clayton Kershaw and Brandon McCarthy are healthy. Scott Kazmir may be returning somewhat soon, too.
It’s hard to imagine a pitcher with a 3.83 ERA is in danger of losing his spot, but that’s what happens when a rotation acquires Yu Darvish, particularly one where Ryu’s 109 ER+ is already the worst amongst six starters with at least 15 starts.
Despite the comparative numbers, Ryu has thrown the ball well. His 3-6 record doesn’t do him justice as he’s not exactly seen the effects the rest of the rotation has from the strong offense and pen.
Ryu’s 4.61 FIP and 15 homers in 84.2 innings are both concerning numbers against a Mets’ team that’s got plenty of pop, but Ryu’s numbers are far more encouraging than Matz’s, particularly given he is coming off a seven-inning scoreless performance against the Giants. He’s also allowed two or fewer runs in five straight games.
In four career starts against the Mets, Ryu is 2-0 with a 2.16 ERA.
LIVE BETTING
Not only have the Dodgers fixed their issues against left-handed pitchers that plagued the team a year ago, they’ve made batting against southpaws a strength.
Los Angeles has a .814 team OPS against lefties. Justin Turner, Enrique Hernandez and Cody Bellinger have each dominated the southpaws.
Turner is batting .406 against lefties with nine homers. Hernanez has matched the homer count. He’s hitting just .260, but has a 1.002 OPS. Meanwhile, Bellinger is batting .333 against lefties with eight bombs.
With the Dodgers also starting a lefty, Travis d’Arnaud has been the Mets’ best hitter against southpaws on the year. He’s batting .239 overall, but is hitting .340 with a 1.049 OPS against lefties.
It really isn’t a bit surprise the Dodgers are the better team against lefties. They’re the better offense all around. Yes, New York has hit a couple more homers, but the Dodgers lineup is much less dysfunctional. Los Angeles has an answer at every position—and sometimes more than one—while the Mets are trying to cram square pegs into round holes all over the diamond.
QUICK PICK
Based on team records, team ERA, team batting and nearly every other stat imaginable, the Dodgers are the better team. Even though the Mets are at home, Los Angeles is still 28-18 on the road, having won six straight road games.
Based solely on that, the Dodgers should win easily. Then, adding in the immense struggles of the Matz, the enormous success of L.A. against lefties and the moves each team just made and the gap widens even more.
Look for Ryu to go five or six solid innings before turning the ball over to a stacked bullpen while even if Matz bounce back with a strong performance, the Mets’ bullpen cupboard is bare and the Dodgers’ bats are strong enough to take advantage.
In the end, look for the Dodger to light up all Mets pitchers on Sunday, including Matz. L.A. should take an early lead and ride it to a decisive victory.
MLB Odds: Dodgers 8, Mets 3
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