The New York Mets are playing their best baseball of the season and have a chance to carry some major momentum into the All-Star break by taking care of business at home this weekend against a terrible Colorado Rockies team.
New York is a heavy favorite for Friday’s opener on the MLB odds, according to MyBookie Sportsbook.
MLB Picks: Mets -220, Rockies +200 (total 9) Score Prediction: Mets 5, Rockies 3 |
Colorado Rockies Moneyline +185
The Rockies are 20-19 against teams with winning percentages at or above .500 this season, and 13-42 vs. teams under .500 on the date of the matchup. The Rockies are in the midst of 17 straight games through July 14 before the All-Star Break, having gone 6-8 so far in this stretch.
McMahon to the All-Star
Third baseman Ryan McMahon is the only All-Star from the team.
McMahon leads all National League third basemen in on-base percentage (.349) while ranking second in batting average (.274), runs (48), hits (95), OPS (.801) and total bases (157), tied for second in home runs (14) and third in RBI (45) and slugging (.452).
Defensively, McMahon leads all NL third basemen in total chances (268), assists (204), is tied for second in defensive bWAR (0.7, min. 75% games at third base) and is tied for third in defensive runs saved (four, min. 500 innings).
Injury to Consider
Colorado remains without former NL MVP Kris Bryant, although he’s not close to that guy any longer.
He’s on the IL with a left rib contusion and oblique strain. Manager Bud Black said there will not be time for him to begin an injury rehab assignment before the All-Star break.
Tanner Gordon on the Hill
Rookie right-hander Tanner Gordon (0-1, 7.11 ERA) makes his second big-league start on the mound for the Rockies.
He was knocked out for five runs on eight hits over 6.1 innings in his MLB debut last Sunday against the Royals, but the fact that he pitched into the seventh inning without issuing a walk and while striking out four batters offered some signs of encouragement.
Tanner allowed eight hits, walked none and struck out four. He threw 79.5% of his 78 pitches for strikes and was the first pitcher in Rockies history to strike out the first two batters in their MLB debut.
It was the longest outing by a Rockies’ pitcher in their first MLB start since Peter Lambert June 16, 2019, at the Cubs (7.0 IP).
Gordon became only the sixth Rockies’ pitcher to pitch 6.1 innings or more in their debut at Coors Field (last: Tyler Anderson, June 12, 2016, vs. San Diego).
26-year-old Gordon is filling in for Hudson, but his stay with the big club may be short. He will have at least one more start while Marquez recovers from the elbow injury.
Gordon was a sixth-round pick by the Braves in the 2019 draft who joined the Rockies as part of the Pierce Johnson trade last summer alongside righty Victor Vodnik.
He was not selected in the Rule 5 Draft back in December and reported back to Triple-A for the 2024 campaign.
Over seven starts spanning 33 2/3 innings of work at Triple-A Albuquerque, Gordon struggled to a 5.35 ERA while striking out a noticeably reduced 18.5% of batters faced in the hitter-friendly Pacific Coast League.
Needless to say, this will be his first career look at the Mets.
^New York Mets Moneyline -233
Following a loss on May 29, the Mets have played 37 games, going 25-12 in that span.
Their 25 wins are tied for the most in the majors. New York has hit .275/.343/.489 in that period, with an.832 OPS.
The Mets lead MLB in runs per game over that span. They are in the midst of 18 straight games against teams who currently have records below .500.
The team is 7-4 in that stretch. The Mets are 29-20 this season when facing a team with a record below .500.
Francisco Lindor
Shortstop Francisco Lindor ranks ninth in the major leagues and fourth in the NL with a 3.8 fWAR.
From the leadoff spot this year, he’s hitting .296/.363/.523 with 36 runs, 18 doubles, nine home runs, 28 RBI, 15 walks, 10 steals with an .886 OPS.
Outfielder Brandon Nimmo, who used to hit leadoff, is 20th in the majors and 11th in the NL with a 3.1 fWAR.
Nimmo’s 3.1 fWAR is third among NL outfielders, behind only Jurickson Profar (3.2 fWAR) and Christian Yelich (3.2 fWAR).
Alonso to the Home Run Derby
Mets slugger Pete Alonso will participate in the 2024 Home Run Derby.
He will attempt to become the second player to win the event three times (also, Ken Griffey Jr.).
Alonso will be the sixth player to compete in the HR Derby at least five times, joining Griffey Jr. (eight), Mark McGwire (seven), Barry Bonds (six), Sammy Sosa (six) and Albert Pujols (five).
Sean Manaea on the Hill
It’s lefty Sean Manaea on the mound Friday. Manaea (5-3, 3.43 ERA) yielded two hits, and three walks and struck out six over six shutout frames but did not factor into the decision last Sunday against the Pirates.
Manaea had a rocky start, going to multiple three-ball counts in the first inning and throwing 40 pitches total over the first two.
Then, he locked in and faced just two batters over the minimum over the rest of his outing.
He did not allow a hit until there were two outs in the fourth, when Ke’Bryan Hayes reached on an infield hit.
However, Manaea did not get much run support, which continues to be a common theme with him since he’s still at five wins this season despite allowing three runs or fewer in 14 of his 17 starts.
Sean dominated Pittsburgh with his sinker, getting 6 of his 9 strikeouts with the pitch. He is on fire, with a 2-0 record, 27 strikeouts, and a 1.57 ERA in his last 5 games for New York.
Manaea has a 4.03 ERA in 22.1 innings against Washington. In his last game, he gave up one earned run on five hits, with two walks and five strikeouts in 7.0 innings. Mets won 7-2.
^Betting Rockies at Mets MLB Odds
When: Friday, 7:10 PM ET
Where: Citi Field
Pitchers (away/home): Tanner Gordon/Sean Manaea
TV: MLB Extra Innings
Stream/gameday audio: https://www.mlb.com/live-stream-games/
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