It’s a whole new Mets team in New York as the team continues to roll with an improved offense, currently sitting at 58-50 with a total moneyline of $785 atop the NL East. They’ll continue to test their new found offense in Sunday’s series finale against the 54-55 Tampa Bay Rays whose total moneyline is -$376.
ODDS ANALYSIS
The Mets have now won six straight games, having swept the Nationals and the Marlins in back-to-back series. Their series sweep against the Marlins came on the road which is a great sign—albeit against a not so great team.
New York is just 20-32 overall on the road this season, but they’re 24-10 during the day. One of those two will have to give.
The Rays are one of the unique teams who actually play better on the road than at home and are just 26-28 at home this year. They’re also much worse during the day than at night with a 16-21 mark.
PITCHING MATCHUP
The one weak spot in an otherwise dominant rotation for the Mets has been the 42-year old right-hander Bartolo Colon.
The burly veteran owns a 10-10 record with a 4.72 ERA, but that ERA is 5.53 since May 18. He’s, however, coming off an eight-inning, one-run start against the Marlins and has two such starts in his last three games, though he failed to get out of the third inning in the other.
Colon has two starts against the American League this year and is 1-1 in those two starts with a 5.25 ERA. He’s yet to face the Rays this year, but in his career he’s 9-5 in 23 starts with a 4.00 ERA.
The Rays will counter Colon with a pitcher 16 years his junior in Chris Archer.
With an injury to Alex Cobb, Archer has stepped into the role of team ace quite flawlessly. In 23 starts, Archer is 10-8 with 2.54 ERA and 0.989 WHIP in 148 2/3 innings of work. His success is no fluke either. His FIP is 2.55 and he’s striking out 10.9 batters per nine innings.
Over Archer’s last four starts, he’s allowed just five runs in 27 innings with 19 hits, four walks and 33 strikeouts.
QUOTE TO NOTE
After his last start, Colon sounded inspired, saying:
“From now on, every game is important. Every game counts. And we’ve got to take every game like it’s our last.”
LIVE/SITUATIONAL BETTING
The Mets have put up 25 runs against the Marlins in their most recent series and their bats are finally coming around.
The deadline acquisition of Yoenis Cespedes has played a big role for the team, but the confidence he brings his teammates is an even bigger deal as New York is getting production up and down the lineup as much of the pressure they’ve felt this season is off.
Cespedes is hitting .318 in his five games since joining the Mets. In addition, other newcomers like Michael Conforto and Juan Uribe are also providing better at bats for this team.
Add in a healthy Travis d’Arnaud and a red hot Lucas Duda who has already slugged nine home runs since July 25 and this offense is finally good enough to support the team’s awesome pitching staff.
Interestingly, Tampa Bay’s offense has come around of late, too. They’re averaging just 3.71 runs per game, but have plated four or more in each of their last six games and have a total of 37 runs in that time.
Curt Casali is seeing more time behind the plate and his .898 OPS has really helped lengthen a lineup that had a near automatic out behind the plate with Renee Rivera.
The team still lacks too much depth with only four players at least 70 at bats and an OPS+ over 100. In that regard, they’re much like the Mets, but they lost players at the deadline rather than adding someone like Cespedes to the mix.
PROP TALK
As always, Evan Longoria is the heart and soul of the Rays offense and coming into the game he’s recorded the second most career at bats against Colon, just behind Asdrubal Cabrera who is just 1 for 14.
Longoria is 4 for 11 against Colon in his lifetime with a pair of doubles, two RBIs and three walks.
ANALYSIS AND PREDICTION
Colon has been the bad the last few months, but two of his last three outings have been very good and the Rays’ offense is not the best. I look for him to have at least a serviceable start. Still, that may not be enough.
The Mets’ offense has come around of late, but they’ll be tested on Sunday with a pitcher who is striking out nearly 11 hitters per nine innings.
Tampa Bay 5, New York 3
The MLB lines for this contest will first be released by BookMaker Sportsbook. Gamble on the game between every half inning with BookMaker’s live betting feature. Along with an adjusted in-game moneyline, you can wager on what will happen in the next at-bat or how many runs will be scored in the next inning. Live betting is the most exciting way to play!
Access live betting lines from your mobile device at BookMaker Sportsbook! You can wager on sporting events as they unfold on television with BookMaker’s live betting platform. Real-time spreads, totals, props and moneyline odds are all available by clicking here so start betting with BookMaker today! The ballgame pitting the New York Mets versus the Tampa Bay Rays will commence Sunday, August 9, 2015, at 1:10 p.m. ET at Tropicana Field.
