MLB Free Pick: Dodgers vs Mets
Scott Morris | June 22, 2018
The Los Angeles Dodgers end a six-game road trip with a three-game stop at Citi Field to play the New York Mets in a weekend series beginning Friday night. The Dodgers are coming off their first loss of a series in more than a month after losing two of their three games against the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field.
The current line has the Dodgers as -150 favorites, with the Mets +135 and the over/under 8. Check here for all the latest betting information up to and during the game.
Prior to losing two of three in Chicago, the Dodgers had won 22 of their previous 29. However, during the last two games of the series with Chicago the Dodgers stranded 31 runners, but manager Dave Roberts is not concern as he knows his team cannot win every series.
Infielder Chris Taylor left the Dodgers last game with tightness in his hamstring and is questionable for Friday. The Dodgers have won nine straight against the Mets.
The Mets enter this series felling anything but confident. The Mets were 3-7 in their just completed 10-game road trip in which they lost the last three at Coors Field to the Colorado Rockies. The Mets allowed 26 runs in the three-game series against the Rockies.
One bright note the Mets have is the play of Brandon Nimmo, who has a six-game hitting streak entering Friday’s game and nine RBIs over a streak of five straight games with at least one RBI.
The Mets are 1-10 in their last 11 games at home. Mets second baseman Asdrubal Cabrera sat out Thursday’s game with a bruised elbow but should return for Friday’s game.
Los Angeles will have left hander Alex Wood starting on the mound Friday. Wood is 2-5 with a 4.22 ERA and won on Saturday for the first time in close to a month holding the San Francisco Giants to four hits and one run in 5 2/3 innings. Previous to that start, he gave up 20 hits and 15 runs over three starts.
New York will have right-hander Zack Wheeler starting on the mound. Wheeler is 2-5 with a 4.82 ERA and has pitched much better of late but with no wins to show for that improvement.
Wheeler has not posted a win in nine straight starts after he settled for another no-decision in his last start after allowing just two runs over six innings against Arizona. He has had four quality starts during his last six outings but is 0-4 during that period dating back to his last win in late April.
Prediction: The Mets are playing poorly while the Dodgers have turned their poor early season around. The Dodgers hitters will return to form against Mets pitching. Dodgers 6-2
