Dodgers vs Mets MLB | October Big-Market Playoff Preview?

It’s a potential playoff preview and TV executives’ dream this weekend when the two biggest markets meet in a big MLB series as the Dodgers face the Mets in a three-game series from Queens. Los Angeles is favored on the MLB odds for Friday’s opener.

How to Bet Dodgers at Mets MLB Odds & TV Info

When: Friday, 7:10 PM ET
Where: Citi Field
Probable pitchers (away/home): Julio Urias/Tylor Megill
TV: MLB Network
Stream/gameday audio: https://www.mlb.com/live-stream-games/
Opening MLB Lines: Dodgers -145, Mets +135 (total 9)

Why Bet on Los Angeles?

The Dodgers are without former AL MVP Mookie Betts, who was returned to the injured list earlier this week with a hip injury. He left the team to see a specialist in Los Angeles. Betts has been bothered by the hip ailment for most of the second half, already having spent 10 days on the IL from July 20-31. Manager Dave Roberts said Betts’ symptoms make it “difficult for him to navigate and to move around.” The Dodgers remain hopeful to have Betts back when he’s eligible at the end of next week, but that’s far from a sure thing.

Losing Betts makes the Dodgers’ effort to avoid the single-elimination wild card game all the more difficult as they still trail the Giants in the NL West. Betts had been red hot lately, hitting .373/.422/.720 since the start of July. That streak brought his season line back to .277/.378/.521 (143 wRC+) over 397 plate appearances.

It’s lefty Julio Urias (13-3) on the mound for the Dodgers. Urias struggled in a no-decision against the Angels last Saturday, allowing three runs (two earned) on six hits over his five frames. The 24-year-old southpaw walked three and struck out five. All of the damage done against him came during a three-run uprising in the third inning. Urias generated just eight swings and misses in the game and notched an underwhelming CSW of 23 percent.

He departed down 3-2 but the Dodgers eventually rallied to get Urias off the hook for the loss. Urias has now gone at least five innings and allowed four runs or less in eight straight starts, lowering his ERA from 3.99 to 3.41 in the process and his WHIP is 1.08.

Urias will be on an extra day of rest here because they felt it was important for Urias, who is at his career high in innings pitched. This is Urias’ first look at the Mets this year. He turned 25 on Thursday. Urias is 16-3 with a 3.41 ERA (68 ER/179.0 IP) and 179 strikeouts in 32 games (31 starts) since the start of the 2020 regular season.

The Los Angeles bullpen has also allowed just 23.2% of its inherited runners to score this season, which is the best in baseball. Blake Treinen hasn’t allowed an earned run since June 23, a span of 20.0 innings. In that time, he has struck out 21 and allowed the opposition to hit just .108 (7-for-65).

Why Bet on New York?

The Mets have used 58 players this season. That is a franchise record for most players used in a season, surpassing the 56 used by the 2018 Mets. The MLB record for players used in a season is 67 by the 2019 Mariners. The Mets are 44-14 when scoring first this season. The team’s .759 winning percentage is the second-best record in the major leagues when scoring first.

Ace pitcher Jacob deGrom (elbow) will have a follow-up MRI in the coming days. If it comes back clean, deGrom should then be cleared to begin a throwing program. DeGrom had a stellar 1.08 ERA, 0.55 WHIP, and 146/11 K/BB ratio in 92 innings when he hit the IL on July 18.

Shortstop Javier Baez remained out of the Mets’ starting lineup Thursday in both games of a doubleheader. He has been held out since Sunday due to left hip tightness and then a lower back issue, but it’s at least somewhat encouraging that he’s yet to be placed on the injured list. Baez was acquired at the Trade Deadline from the Cubs. He has had a few big hits since the trade but is batting below .200 overall with New York.

It’s Tylor Megill (1-2) on the mound for New York. Megill surrendered four runs on five hits over 4 2/3 innings in last Saturday’s loss to the Phillies. Megill struck out five and walked one. His fifth inning, however, was a struggle. The 25-year-old right-hander surrendered a solo home run to Brad Miller and a three-run home run to Odubel Herrera, throwing his team into a 4-0 deficit in the process. The Mets let Megill try to get out of the inning, but Jean Segura poked an infield single to second base and Megill’s day was done ahead of a third at-bat with Bryce Harper.

Megill has now served up four home runs over his last three starts and 15 innings, leading to an 0-2 record and 5.40 ERA over that stretch. On the season, Megill owns a 3.20 ERA, 1.13 WHIP and 48/12 K/BB ratio (45 innings).

The rookie was drafted 230th overall in the 2018 amateur draft and came into the season as the 23rd best prospect in the Mets thin farm system, so he doesn’t have any pedigree as a top prospect. Megill has primarily thrown three pitches since his big-league debut: a fastball 55.3% of the time, a change 23.9% of the time, and a slider 18.2% of the time. Hitters have a .272 average and .444 slugging percentage against Megill’s fastball.