The Los Angeles Angels (29-32, 17-17 home) and the New York Mets (39-22, 20-14 away) square off for the final time this season in the series finale of a three-game set.
The interleague foes have each won one contest, with the Mets taking game one (7-3) and the Angels winning on Saturday, 11-6.
Sunday’s first pitch is at 7 p.m. EST inside Angels Stadium in Anaheim, California. The game will be televised nationally on ESPN’s Sunday Night Baseball. Los Angeles is the betting favorite (-125), and the over-under total is nine runs.
What to Know – New York Mets
New York is feeling the effects of a lengthy road stretch, playing their tenth consecutive game away from home on Sunday night. The Mets have dropped three of their last four and is 4-5 on this particular road trip. New York sits atop the NL East division.
Right-hander Taijuan Walker (3-2, 3.28 ERA, 1.26 WHIP) is the projected starter and looks to get the Mets back into the win column. The veteran starter tries to pick up his first victory of the month after back-to-back losses in his first two starts.
Walker’s made nine starts this year, pitching 46.2 innings, surrendering 17 earned runs on 44 hits and 15 walks with 25 strikeouts.
Pete Alonso is second in the league in both home runs (17) and runs driven in (55) and continues to be the engine of the Mets’ offense. Francisco Lindor’s resurgence this season has the all-star shortstop with a team-high 40 runs scored, nine home runs, and eight stolen bases.
The Mets lead the majors with a .264 team batting average, scoring 5.1 runs per contest. New York’s pitching staff ranks 18th in the MLB with a 3.93 team earned run average.
What to Know – Los Angeles Angels
Los Angeles has picked up victories in two of its last three contests after suffering a historic 14-game losing streak. The Angels dropped to eight games behind the Houston Astros during the losing stretch.
New York counters on the mound with left-hander Patrick Sandoval (3-1, 2.81 ERA, 1.31 WHIP). The 25-year-old has been spectacular this season, appearing in nine contests and allowing only 15 earned runs over 48.0 innings of work. Sandoval’s scattered 39 hits, 24 walks, and struck out 46.
The Angels’ offense has benefited from the home run this season, with four players already surpassing double-digit totals. Mike Trout leads the way with 16, driving in 33 and crossing home plate 42 times. Two-way player Shohei Ohtani leads the Angels with 37 RBI thanks to 13 home runs.
Los Angeles scores 4.4 runs per game behind a .244 team batting average that sits 14th in the league. The Halos’ pitching staff sports a 3.92 team ERA, 17th in the majors.
The Pick is In
The Mets don’t have as much success against left-handers and are on the back end of a lengthy road trip, but New York’s offense is one of the best in the majors. We like the value of getting the Mets at plus-money against an Angels team that’s 2-9 this month.
Betting Pick: New York Mets ML
