The 2022 MLB betting season is set to begin for both the New York Mets and Washington Nationals late Thursday afternoon on Opening Day. Who ultimately gets the starting nod remains to be seen with Max Scherzer scheduled to throw a bullpen session on Tuesday to see if his tight right hamstring is an issue or not to begin the campaign. Patrick Corbin will oppose whomever New York ultimately decides to go with. Either way, much is unknown about both teams entering regular season play. What MLB bettors do know however is that neither of these teams played a role in the division pennant a season ago with the Mets finishing third and the Nats bringing up the rear. Online sportsbooks do however expect the Mets to have a hand in deciding this year’s pennant winner, while another last place finish is expected for Juan Soto and Co. As it is, look for New York to be installed a decided road favorite for this matchup should it be Mad Max that toes the bump.
First pitch for the Opening Day tilt between the NL East rival New York Mets and Washington Nationals is scheduled for Thursday, April 7, 2022. Take it in live on ESPN+ at 4:05 p.m. ET from Nationals Park. Bet on MLB odds and player props at BookMaker.eu every day of the season.
MLB Betting Odds at BookMaker.eu
The Mets wrapped 2021 owners of a 77-85 overall record that equated to over $2400 in losses for their wagering supporters. Only the Orioles, Padres, Nationals, and D’backs cost MLB bettors more. Most of the issues occurred on the road where it logged a pathetic 30-51 overall record -$2153. Though it sat 12-games over the .500 mark as a host, it still cost their backers upwards of $250. The Nationals only managed to win 65 total games a season ago -$2748. They went 35-46 as a host -$1457 and 29-51 on the road -$1291. As it is, they’re currently +4000 underdogs to win the NL East with a 71.5-game win total. The Mets +156 sit only behind the defending World Series champion Atlanta Braves on the odds to win the NL East, and sport a lofty 88.5-game season win total. It’ll be interesting to see how they topple that impost with Jacob deGrom out for the foreseeable future and Scherzer possibly hitting the IL to start the year.
Probable Pitchers
Max Scherzer R: In inking Scherzer to a three-year, $130 million contract in the offseason, the Mets brought in a 3-time Cy Young Award winner to pair up with deGrom atop the starting rotation. He nearly helped lead the Dodgers to back-to-back World Series titles last season, and still has plenty left in the tank as evidenced by his 15-4 record, 2.46 ERA, 11.8 K/9, and 1.8 BB/9 averages of a season ago. This will be the fourth career start against his former team whom he’s 1-0 against with a bloated 5.27 ERA, 1.68 WHIP, and .273 BAA. This however will be the first time he’s thrown at them since 2010. He’s yet to throw at a single player likely to step up to the dish to oppose him in this start!
Patrick Corbin L: This year marks the 10th that the left-hander will have been doing work at the MLB level. While the first seven were largely competitive, the last two have been anything but. Especially last season when Corbin managed a wretched 9-16 record that saw him get blown up to the tune of a 5.82 ERA, 1.468 WHIP, and allow nearly 2.0 home runs per nine innings. On top of all that, he only managed 143 strikeouts and issued 60 free passes through his 171+ innings of work. If last season and the COVID shortened campaign the year prior tells baseball bettors anything, it’s that Corbin isn’t an arm to trust entering the year. At least not until he proves us wrong or starts going deeper into games again; he averaged just short of 5.5 innings last year.
Mets vs. Nationals Betting Prediction
So just how many Nationals fans will make it a point to get out to the ballpark and support their team on Opening Day? My guess is there won’t be many! Regardless, I’ll want nothing to do laying road chalk with the Mets in this spot knowing full well they’ve got some kinks to work out themselves. New York earned rivalry bragging rights a season ago by winning 11 of the 19 overall meetings. Of those 11 wins, only four occurred on the road which lets it be known Washington got up to protect its house. When the Nats hit the board as substantial home underdogs, I’ll have no reservations throwing a unit on Soto and his mates. It’s Opening Day which means anything can happen!
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