No Verlander for Mets
This was supposed to be the game when Justin Verlander, a three-time Cy Young Award winner and five-time strikeout leader in the American League, made his debut with the Mets. Instead, New York fans will need to wait to see one of the best pitchers of his generation take the mound. Verlander was placed on the injured list due to a muscle strain near his throwing shoulder. David Peterson is set to start for the Mets in the second game of a four-game series.
The Mets opened the season by blowing a three-run lead against reigning National League Cy Young Award winner Sandy Alcantara before veteran outfielder Brandon Nimmo’s two-run double lifted the Mets to the 5-3 win.
.@You_Found_Nimmo finds a couple runs! pic.twitter.com/fiWMTP6L49
— New York Mets (@Mets) March 30, 2023
The Mets had 10 hits and nine runs in 9.1 innings in two games against Miami starting pitcher Jesus Luzardo last season. Peterson was 1-1 with a 2.50 ERA against Miami in the previous campaign. His 23 strikeouts against Miami were the most he had against any team in 2022.
The season opener had an over/under betting line of 6½ runs thanks to a matchup of elite pitchers. The MLB odds have a 7½-run total for this game since the two starting pitchers are talented but inconsistent lefties.
Luzardo was 1-2 with a 4.34 ERA in five spring training starts. Peterson allowed one hit and no runs in 12 innings during the spring.
When looking at the MLB news, The Mets won’t have star closer Edwin Diaz this season. Reliever Sam Coonrod, who didn’t allow an earned run in the spring, and starter Jose Quintana are also out.
For the Marlins, reliever Steven Okert (groin) is on the injured list. 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.
Veterans Deliver in Opener
In a world where players seem to change teams on an annual basis, the New York Mets got a boost from a pair of players who are in it for the long haul.
Outfielder Brandon Nimmo, in his eighth season with the Mets, drove in the two runs in the top of the seventh inning after Miami rallied to tie the season opener.
Jeff McNeil, playing his sixth season with the Mets and coming off winning the National League batting title, had two hits and drove in the run that put the Mets up 3-0.
Now it is Peterson’s turn as he prepares for his fourth season with the Mets.
Five of the last six games played by the Mets finished over the Las Vegas odds total.
Setting the Table
Miami went out and added a couple of key pieces to get the offense going.
Luis Arraez, who won the 2022 American League batting title with a .316 average, was acquired in a trade from Minnesota with pitcher Pablo Lopez and two minor leaguers.
The well-traveled Jean Segura is with his sixth team in his 12th MLB season.
The two-time All-Star, who led the National League with 203 hits during the 2016 season with Arizona, has been traded four times. However, Miami was able to sign Segura as a free agent.
Arraez and Segura hit first and second in the lineup in the season opener, with Arraez having two of Miami’s five hits. He had an RBI double and scored on Garrett Cooper’s game-tying home run in the three-run sixth inning.
The MLB betting lines total has gone under in four of the Marlins’ last six home games.
Mets vs Marlins Game Injuries
Mets vs Marlins Head-to-Head
The Mets have won six of the last eight games against Miami. Nine of the last 10 meetings have been decided by two runs or more.
Each of the last seven matchups finished over the total.
The Mets are 8-2 in their last 10 games at Miami.
Mets vs Marlins Game Information
- Game: Mets (1-0) vs Marlins (0-1)
- Location: LoanDepot Park, Miami, FL
- Day/Time: Friday, Mar. 31, 6:40 p.m. ET
- Mets vs Marlins Live Stream: MLB.tv
Mets vs Marlins Betting Lines
Mets vs Marlins Picks and Prediction
The teams combined for eight runs and five extra-base hits in the season opener, even with two of the top pitchers in the game getting the starts. What will things look like with Peterson and Luzardo getting the starts on Friday?
Keep in mind that 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, while five of the first six games went under the Las Vegas MLB odds total.
With the way Peterson threw in spring training, it is hard to pick against the Mets in this one.
The New York Mets are listed at -109 in our Las Vegas baseball odds. This means that if you wager $100 on the Mets, you have a chance to win $92. Miami Marlins are -101, offering a chance to win $99 on a $100 wager.
The implied probability attached to the betting lines gives the New York Mets a 52.1% chance to win, with the Miami Marlins at 50.25%.
Mets vs Marlins Trends
Mets vs Marlins Edge
Mets vs Marlins Results
Mets vs Marlins Game Summary
