Giants vs Mets MLB | New York Finally Has Lindor Back

The New York Mets are in the midst of an incredibly tough schedule as they try to stay in the NL East Division race. They host the NL West-leading San Francisco Giants in Game 2 of their series at Citi Field on Wednesday with the Mets favored on the MLB odds.

How to Bet Giants at Mets MLB Odds & TV Info

When: Wednesday, 7:10 PM ET
Where: Citi Field
Probable pitchers (away/home): Johnny Cueto/Taijuan Walker
TV: MLB Extra Innings
Stream/gameday audio: https://www.mlb.com/live-stream-games/
Opening MLB Lines: Mets -115, Giants +105 (total 8.5)

Why Bet on San Francisco?

San Francisco has had the outright best record in the National League now for 100 days, the most days they’ve had the best record outright in the NL in the SF-era (1958-present) and the most since 1954, when they had the best record for 104 days. It’s also the most days they’ve led the NL West outright since 2003 (176 days).

Giants batters have hit 13 pinch-hit homers, their second-most as a team in a single-season since 1974. Only the 2001 Giants had more pinch-hit homers (14) since then. Seven of LaMonte Wade Jr.’s 16 home runs this season have given the Giants a lead or tied the game (six go-ahead, one game-tying).

Since being traded from the Cubs, former NL MVP Kris Bryant seems energized, and here’s why: “You know, after each win it’s celebrated. There’s fun in the clubhouse, people are enjoying their time with each other, they’re hanging out after games. I’ve been a part of clubhouses like that before and we won a World Series, I think, because we had that kind of atmosphere in Chicago. I see it here, too.”

It’s Johnny Cueto (7-6) on the mound here as he will be activated off the injured list. He was put on hit on Aug. 11, retroactive to August 9, with a right flexor strain. It’s Cueto’s second stint on the IL this year, after he missed a few starts early in the season.

Cueto has vastly exceeded expectations, emerging as a key contributor for the Giants’ loaded rotation, compiling a solid 3.98 ERA, 1.28 WHIP and 92/24 K/BB ratio across 104 innings (19 starts) this season. He’s registered eight strikeouts per nine innings, better than his career average of 7.6. The righty’s 5.5% walk rate is among the lowest in the National League.

It has been an unexpected bounce-back since the two-time All-Star struggled in 2020 after missing large chunks of the 2018 and 2019 seasons recovering from Tommy John surgery.

Why Bet on New York?

The Mets saw the return of four-time All-Star shortstop Francisco Lindor on Tuesday, five and a half weeks after landing on the injured list due to a strained right oblique. Before landing on the IL, Lindor was batting .228/.326/.376 with 11 homers in 87 games. He reclaimed his starting position at shortstop, with childhood friend and World Baseball Classic teammate Javier Báez shifting to second base.

“It’s huge that we’re having him back, right?” Manager Mel Rojas said. “Having his presence on the field is something that we missed for over a month now — his energy, his bat, his defense, everything he brings to help the team win games. It’s been hard to be out there without his presence. I know a lot of guys are better because he’s there.”

Catcher James McCann remains on the injured list with back spasms. Prior to his injury, McCann was in a horrid slump at the plate, going 4 for his last 23 (.174/.208/.174), and 9 for his last 50 overall (.180/.212/.260). In 99 games, the 31-year-old has nine homers, 35 RBIs and a slash line of .240/.303/.357 with a mere .660 OPS. Not what the Mets were expecting when they signed the 2019 All-Star to a big offseason contract.

It’s Taijuan Walker on the mound. Walker (7-8) yielded four runs over six innings last Thursday in a loss to the Dodgers. Walker struggled in his second consecutive outing against the Dodgers, serving up six hits, including an RBI double to Billy McKinney and an RBI single to Trea Turner with two outs in the fifth inning. He recorded four strikeouts and only issued one walk.

The 29-year-old righty has been knocked around for 29 runs (28 earned) with a 25/15 K/BB ratio across 33 2/3 innings (seven starts) since the All-Star break. After struggling mightily coming out of the All-Star Game, Walker has now pitched at least six innings in his last three starts, compiling a 3.86 ERA in those outings.

When asked whether fatigue is playing a role in his lopsided start to the second half, Walker said he’s done a “good job” with his arm care, but largely sidestepped any suggestion of feeling lethargic. He said hitters can tell when he has not made up his mind on a pitch — when he’s just throwing something to throw it.

“Just not trusting myself,” Walker said. “When you do that and when you throw a pitch without conviction, there’s nothing behind it.”