The New York Mets (47-29, 24-12 home) begin a three-game weekend interleague series with the Texas Rangers (36-38, 19-18 home) starting on Friday night. The three contests will be the only time these two teams meet during the 2022 season.
The series opener is scheduled for a 7:10 p.m. EST first pitch at Citi Field in Queens, New York. New York is the betting favorite at -195, and the over-under total is 8.5 runs.
What to Know – Texas Rangers
Texas hasn’t had a winning record yet this year but continues to battle in the standings are 5-5 over its last ten contests. The Rangers have crept into second place in the American League West, 11.5 games behind the Houston Texans.
Right-hander Glenn Otto (4-3, 5.31 ERA, 1.51 WHIP) takes the hill for the visitors. The 26-year-old looks to bounce back after surrendering six earned runs over just two innings in his last start. On the year, Otto tossed 42.1 innings, allowing 25 earned runs on 38 hits, and 26 walks, with 34 strikeouts.
Adolis Garcia leds the Rangers’ offense with 15 home runs, 49 runs batted in and 46 runs scored. Former World Series MVP Corey Seager has boosted the Texas lineup with 15 home runs and 35 RBI. Nathaniel Lowe (.278 AVG, 10 HRs, 32 RBI) successfully got on base in eleven consecutive games before falling to safely get on Wednesday night.
The Rangers are 18th in the majors with a 2.39 team batting average, scoring 4.4 runs per game. Texas’ pitching staff is 16th in the MLB with a 3.91 team earned run average.
What to Know – New York Mets
The Mets try to bounce back this weekend after the Astros handed them a three-game sweep at home. New York has dropped six of its last ten games but remains in first place in the NL East with a 3.5-game advantage over the Atlanta Braves.
New York hands the ball over to right-hander Chris Bassitt (6-5, 4.01 ERA, 1.15 WHIP), who’ll try and get the Mets back on track. Bassitt pitched better in his last three trips, picking up a pair of victories and lowering his ERA by .40. The 33-year-old has 89.2 innings under his belt, giving up 40 earned runs, 77 hits, 26 walks, and striking out 95.
Pete Alonso leads the majors with 69 RBIs and ranks fifth with 22 home runs. Starling Marte joined the Mets lineup in the offseason and has been an instant spark atop the order, swatting seven home runs, stealing eight bags, and scoring 48 runs. Jeff McNeil is sixth amongst players in the MLB with a .323 batting average.
New York is fourth in the league and second in the NL, hitting .256 as a team and plating 4.8 runs per game. The Mets’ pitching staff sits 15th in the majors sporting a 3.90 team ERA.
The Pick is In
New York hasn’t dropped four games in a row all season, and we don’t see them doing it Friday night. The Mets wake up the bats and right the ship against a below-average arm. Take New York to win by a comfortable margin.
The Pick: New York Mets ML
