The New York Mets are desperately trying to add pieces to their puzzle to run down the Washington Nationals in the NL East. The best way to make up ground is to win these games against their divisional foes, including on Sunday Night Baseball at home in front of what should be a raucous crowd.
ODDS ANALYSIS
The Mets are only three-games above .500 this year at 52-49, but they’re at least on the right side of the breakeven line for bettors at +2.85 units. Coming into this series, the Nationals are seven-games above .500 at 53-46, but their expectations were higher, and their profitability is -1.76 units for the campaign.
PITCHING MATCHUP
This is the second time that Noah Syndergaard and Jordan Zimmermann will have pitched against one another in the last couple weeks. Both pitched well on July 22, though neither factored into the decision after the New York bullpen conceded a 3-1 lead.
Zimmermann has a 3.36 ERA and 92 strikeouts against 23 walks in 128.2 innings of work, and has been the picture of consistency. He only needed 76 pitches to get through six frames against the Marlins his last time out, and he'll probably be expected to get through a good chunk of this game.
Syndergaard is only 5-5 on the year, but the rest of his peripheral stats are similar to Zimmermann. The rookie is averaging nearly 10 strikeouts per nine innings.
The problem with Syndergaard though, aside from the fact that it is at least possible he gets traded by Friday's deadline, is that he threw 107 pitches his last time out against the Padres. The likelihood of him throwing more than about 95 pitches in this one is small.
QUOTE TO NOTE
"No question about it. You talk to other people in the league… if we keep going and really play well the next couple of months, I don't know too many people who want to face this pitching staff in the playoffs." – Mets manager Terry Collins on his pitching staff
SITUATIONAL BETTING
The Nationals are in the midst of a completely reworked bullpen thanks to the acquisition of Jonathan Papelbon. Papelbon is going to become the team's closer when he dons the Nats jersey for the first time, which will push Drew Storen to an eighth inning role.
Will this all end up working out for Matt Williams and the gang? We're not sure. We're taking the wait-and-see approach.
PROP TALK
Don't you just get the feeling that Wilmer Flores is about set to go on a roll? It's possible that after his little crying spat after thinking he was traded to the Brewers on Wednesday night might really spark him.
Flores has 10 homers this year, but two of those 10 have come against Washington. Don't discount the possibility of him being the hero on Sunday.
ANALYSIS AND PREDICTION
The Mets are going to be full of emotion in this one, and they'll have a huge home field advantage in what's going to be recognized as one of the most important games of the year.
Though it's a concern to likely only have Syndergaard for five or six innings in this one, we have more confidence in the back of the New York pen than the back of the Washington pen right now, and that'll make the difference in this one.
New York 4, Washington 3
The baseball betting odds for this Sunday game will first be available at BookMaker Sportsbook. BookMaker is going to have multiple betting options available for this televised baseball matchup. Live wagering during commercials offers an adjusted moneyline, individual inning run totals and next hitter results. Log in and start gambling during the game now!
Need to fund your account before the big game but don't have your computer? No problem! BookMaker Sportsbook now offers a mobile betting cashier so you can deposit money directly from your smartphone or tablet. Don't miss out on getting paid because you couldn't bet. Click here and deposit at BookMaker now! The duel between the Washington Nationals and the New York Mets will take place Sunday, August 2, 2015 at 8:08 p.m. ET at Citi Field in Flushing, NY. Catch the action live on ESPN.
