Mets Look for Solid Start
Teams at the bottom of the Grapefruit League standings get together Thursday in the first of the four-game series to open the 2023 MLB season.
The New York Mets went 10-14 in the spring with the Marlins going 7-16. What will things look like when the regular season gets underway?
It will be pretty hard to top the matchup of starting pitchers. Reigning National League Cy Young Award winner Sandy Alcantara will go for the Marlins with Max Scherzer getting the start for the Mets. According to the MLB picks, Alcantara (+550) is first and Scherzer (+800) fourth in the National League Cy Young Award odds.
Considering the pitching matchup, it is not a surprise that the MLB odds have this game tied for the lowest total of 6½ among the 15 games being played.
Alcantara was 1-1 with an 0.68 ERA in his four spring training starts. Robert Garcia and Andrew Nardi were both productive relievers in the spring.
Scherzer went 2-1 with a 1.53 ERA to go with 25 strikeouts and just two walks in 17.2 innings in his four spring starts. Sam Coonrod and Tommy Hunter are among the relievers who didn’t allow an earned run in spring training games for the Mets.
When looking at the MLB news, The Mets won’t have star closer Edwin Diaz this season. Reliever Sam Conrood, who didn’t allow an earned run in the spring, and starter Jose Quintana are also out. Ortfielcer Brandon Nimmo is probable despite an ankle injury.
For the Marlins, reliever Steven Okert (groin) is doubtful. Fellow pitchers Anthony Bender and Max Meyer are out for the season.
According to the MLB playoff odds, The Mets (+850) are tied for third in the odds to win the World Series. The Marlins are well back at +10000.
Lofty Expectations for Mets
It has been eight years since the Mets reached the World Series and with deep-pocketed owner Steve Cohen willing to spend to end that drought, there are high hopes for New York.
Keep an eye on pitcher Kodai Senga while Justin Verlander also joined the Mets in the offseason.
Pete Alonso will lead a batting order that won’t look much different from last season. Batting champion Jeff McNeil hit just .174 during the spring while Francisco Lindor batted .316 with three home runs.
Infielder Brett Baty was sent to Triple-A Syracuse despite hitting .325 in spring training. First baseman Mark Vientos had a team-high 11 RBIs in the spring. Both were sent to the minor leagues.
Infielders Brett Baty and Mark Vientos have been optioned to Triple-A.
LHP Zach Muckenhirn, RHP Denyi Reyes, catcher Michael Pérez, INF Jonathan Araúz, INF José Peraza and outfielder DJ Stewart have been reassigned to minor league camp.
— New York Mets (@Mets) March 26, 2023
D.J. Stewart hit .370 with 11 RBIs in the spring as well.
Four of the last five games played by the Mets last season finished over the Las Vegas odds total.
New Man in Charge in Miami
Skip Schumaker takes over for Don Mattingly as the Miami manager. He will have his work cut out.
Jean Segura is about to make Miami the sixth franchise he has played for in MLB. Jazz Chisholm is one of the more exciting players in the National League. However, he needs some help.
Garrett Cooper, Jesus Sanchez and Luis Arraez are solid players. However, this is not going to be one of MLB’s most feared lineups.
Alcantara gives Miami a chance to win every fifth day. Still, how much run support he will receive is a legitimate question.
Mets vs Marlins Game Injuries
Mets vs Marlins Head-to-Head
The Mets have won six of the last eight games against Miami with five of those contests being decided by at least six runs.
Each of the last six games between the Mets and Marlins finished over the total.
The Mets went 7-2 in the road games against Miami last season.
Mets vs Marlins Game Information
- Game: Mets 101-61 in 2022 (second in NL East), Marlins 69-93 (fourth in NL East)
- Location: LoanDepot Park, Miami, FL
- Day/Time: Thursday, Mar. 30, 4:10 p.m. ET (the teams also play Friday at 6:40 p.m., Saturday at 4:10 p.m. and Sunday at 1:40 p.m.)
- Mets vs Marlins Live stream: MLB.tv
Mets vs Marlins Betting Lines
Mets vs Marlins Picks and Prediction
LoanDepot Park was the site of a sensational final game in the World Baseball Classic with Shohei Ohtani striking out Los Angeles Angels teammate Mike Trout to give Japan the title. It could be a while before that much excitement is part of games in that park this season.
The Alcantara-Scherzer pitching matchup should be a fun one. Will they be in shutdown mode right away?
Just one of the first six games played by the Mets last season finished over the total. Miami opened the 2022 season by losing four of the first five games with five of the first six games going under the Las Vegas MLB lines total.
The New York Mets are listed at -117 in our Las Vegas baseball odds. This means that if you wager $100 on the Mets, you have a chance to win $85. Miami Marlins is +107, offering a chance to win $107 on a $100 wager.
The implied probability attached to the betting lines gives the New York Mets a 53.92% chance to win, with the Miami Marlins at 48.31%.
Mets vs Marlins Trends
Mets vs Marlins Edge
Mets vs Marlins Results
Mets vs Marlins Game Summary
