The Los Angeles Dodgers (35-17, 17-8 home) continue its four-game series against the New York Mets (35-19, 16-11 away) on Saturday night in The City of Angels. Los Angeles took the first two contests, 2-0 and 6-1, on Thursday and Friday.
Saturday’s first pitch is at 10:10 p.m. EST at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, California. The Dodgers are the betting favorite (-180), and the over-under total is 8.5 runs.
What to Know – New York Mets
The Mets have lost their last four road contests but are 6-4 over its last ten games. New York owns the top spot in the NL East, holding an 8.5 games advantage over the nearest opponent.
New York looks to lefty David Peterson (2-0, 3.03 ERA, 1.18 WHIP) to get the Mets back into the win column. Peterson looks to bounce back in June after a rough month on the hill; the 26-year-old yielded nine earned runs over 15.2 innings of action. For the season, Peterson has tossed 29.2 innings, serving up ten earned runs on 22 hits, 13 walks, with 23 strikeouts.
Pete Alonso is tied for fourth in the MLB with 14 home runs and ranks second with 38 RBI. Francisco Lindor has also topped the 40-RBI mark, with 43 runs driven in through 53 games. Offseason acquisition Starling Marte has fit right in in the Big Apple, swatting six home runs and stealing seven bases and a .276 batting average as the team’s two-hole hitter.
The Mets are second in the MLB with a .263 team batting average, scoring 5.0 runs per game. New York’s pitching staff is eighth in the majors, with a 3.64 team earned run average.
What to Know – Los Angeles Dodgers
Los Angeles was handed a rare sweep at the hands of the Pittsburgh Pirates earlier in the week but has rebounded with a pair of victories over the Mets. The Dodgers are atop the NL West with a four-game lead over the San Diego Padres.
Right-hander Walker Buehler (6-1, 3.22 ERA, 1.24 WHIP) attempts to bounce back after serving up two home runs, and four earned runs over six innings in a no-decision in his last start. Buehler’s ERA jumped from 2.55 to 3.22 over six starts during the month of May.
The Dodgers’ lineup is filled with All-Star hitters, led by leadoff hitter Mookie Betts who’s second in the MLB with 16 home runs. Betts has crossed home plate a league-best 52 times.
Los Angeles is fifth in the league and fourth in the NL, hitting .253 as a squad and averaging 5.4 runs per contest. The Dodgers’ pitching staff is the best in the majors, sporting a 2.78 team ERA. Trea Turner leads Los Angeles with 42 RBIs and a .308 batting average.
The Pick is In
Buehler hasn’t had his best stuff in recent starts, and he’ll need it tonight against a powerful Mets lineup. The Mets are too good to suffer another road defeat, and Peterson gives them a great chance to put New York ahead early. New York gets the victory in a close one thanks to clutch hitting from the top of their order.
Betting Pick: New York Mets ML
