NY Mets Take on the Brewers as MLB Betting Underdogs

Posted by Kenny Bell on Thursday,May 11, 2017 11:18, EDT in

All eyes will be on Mets starting pitcher Matt Harvey on Friday night as New York opens a three-game series in Milwaukee. Harvey has been a big story in the New York tabloids this week for all the wrong reasons. How will he respond? Before heading into this series, the Mets took on the San Francisco Giants in a 3 game series, ending it at 2-1. For the Brewers, they end a 3 game series against the Boston Red Sox, in which they’ve won the first 2 games. The Mets likely will be slight MLB betting underdogs.

NY Mets at Milwaukee MLB Betting Preview & Pick

When: Friday, May 12, 8:10 PM ET
Where: Miller Park, Milwaukee
Probable pitchers (away/home): Matt Harvey/Matt Garza
TV: MLB Extra Innings
Stream: MLB.tv
Radio: New York / Milwaukee
Opening MLB Lines: TBA

Why Bet On NY Mets?

Jeurys Familia blew his first save of the season Wednesday in the Mets’; 6-5 loss to the Giants as New York tried for the sweep. Wilmer Flores deserves some of the blame after botching a potential game-ending double play, but it’s not like Familia was sharp. He walked two, gave up a game-tying RBI single to Hunter Pence, and then Christian Arroyo smacked a bases-clearing three-run double to give the Giants the lead for good. Familia recorded only one out and was charged with three earned runs. He now has a 3.86 ERA and 1.61 WHIP in 9 1/3 innings this season.

New York could get back first baseman Lucas Duda here. Duda homered and played all nine innings at first base Tuesday with High-A St. Lucie. Duda’s return from the disabled list looks to be imminent, as he’s now played three consecutive minor league rehab games without issue. The first baseman has been sidelined since April 20 because of a hyperextended left elbow.

But this game is all about Harvey. He was supposed to pitch last Sunday vs. Miami but was suspended after not showing up to the ballpark the day before. Harvey admitted he was out drinking into the wee hours of Saturday morning and then went golfing, which gave him a headache. Now comes word that Harvey was out partying before he failed to show up for Saturday’s game because he was distraught after seeing photos of model Adriana Lima out on the town with Patriots wide receiver Julian Edelman.

Lima and Edelman reportedly broke up in March, after which she was photographed kissing with Harvey in Miami. However, Lima attended the recent Met Gala with Edelman while Harvey was with the Mets in Atlanta. And, to add insult to injury, Lima unfollowed Harvey on Instagram after the event.

Harvey delivered two apologies Tuesday at Citi Field. The first came in a somber and attentive New York Mets clubhouse, where he stood before his teammates and took full responsibility for his recent actions. Shortly thereafter, Harvey took a seat at the front of the media room.

“I understand everybody’s anger and the organization doing what they did,” Harvey said. “I completely understand. It’s me who takes full blame for that, and it is me who needs to fix it and make sure it never happens again.”

Harvey is 2-2 with a 5.14 ERA this season. The Mets are as worried about Harvey’s on-field performance as they are his comportment; he is 0-2 with an 11.17 ERA his last two starts.

Why Bet On Milwaukee?

Brewers Opening Day starter Junior Guerra (calf) threw a simulated game on Wednesday. Guerra said that he felt good after working through the simulated game. He will set out on a minor league rehab assignment with Double-A Biloxi on Monday, when he is expected to throw around 75 pitches. Assuming Guerra suffers no setbacks, a return by the end of May is very much in play for the 32-year- old right-hander.

The Brewers are clearly winning the offseason trade that netted them third baseman Travis Shaw from Boston for right-hander Tyler Thornburg. Shaw has settled in as the Brewers’ cleanup hitter, and his seven homers, 24 RBIs and .544 slugging percentage would all lead the Red Sox. Thornburg, meanwhile, has yet to pitch in a game for the Sox due to a shoulder impingement that has him on the disabled list. The 28-year- old logged a 2.15 ERA and averaged better than 12 strikeouts per nine innings pitched with Milwaukee last year.

It’s Matt Garza (1-0, 2.55) on the mound for Milwaukee. After starting the season on the 10-day disabled list, Garza has accumulated a 2.55 ERA through three starts. He scattered eight hits and struck out four on Saturday, throwing 58 of his 86 pitches for strikes vs. Pittsburgh. Garza didn’t walk a batter for the second straight start, but he got a no-decision for his efforts.

“Just getting starting pitchers performing and doing well is big,” Manager Craig Counsell said. “He’s got into the seventh inning his last two starts, and that’s important. He’s done it well. He’s made pitches. As much as anything, just having a guy you roll around every fifth day. He’s in a good spot right now, and he’s pitching really well.”

Garza has been a pleasant surprise for the Brewers this season after recording an ERA over 4.50 in each of the past two seasons.

NY Mets at Milwaukee MLB Betting Pick: New York Mets

If Harvey has any heart, he will have a stellar outing here to take the pressure off.