After a 14-inning pitcher’s duel at Citi Field, the Atlanta Braves will try to steal another game from the red-hot New York Mets. The Braves have won six straight games and are cruising in the NL East division with a six-game lead.
The Mets opened as slight -115 favorites with a total of 8.
STANDOUT STATS
- Max Fried will get the start for the Braves and he’s been having a great August. In four starts (22.1 innings) this month, he sports a 2.01 ERA. The Braves have won 11 of Fried’s last 13 starts (dating back to June 4th) and his ERA from those outings is 4.41. He faced the Mets at home back on August 13th and limited them to six hits and one earned run over six innings.
- Zack Wheeler will take the mound for the Mets and he’s also been sharp in August. He owns a 2.88 ERA in four starts with his only bad outing coming against the Braves. In three starts vs the Braves this season, his ERA is 5.82 over 17 innings with batters hitting .368 in those games. That being said, the Mets are also 6-1 SU in his Wheeler’s last seven home starts.
- Both of these teams have been red-hot in the standings this month with the Braves leading the NL East and the Mets chasing a wildcard spot. The Braves are 14-8 SU in 22 games while the Mets are 15-6 SU in 21 games.
- The Mets’ offense has been resurgent over the course of the season and is hammering left-handed pitching lately. Over the last 30 days, the Mets rank seventh in batting average and have the sixth-least total strikeouts against southpaws.
- The Braves’ bullpen has been a letdown since the all-star break. Since July 12, Atlanta’s relievers own 6.15 ERA, which is the third-worst in MLB in that span. Just over the last two weeks, the bullpen owns a 5.35 ERA.
- UNDER bettors have been rewarded lately when betting on Braves games as the UNDER has hit in their last six games (average combined score: 4.5). It’s also hit in five of the Mets’ last seven games and in four of their last five games when Zack Wheeler starts.
My Best Bet for Braves vs Mets
Mets Moneyline (-115)
I’m not going to let one 14-inning game sway me to back off the Mets. They’ve been the toast of the National League since the all-star break and although Zack Wheeler doesn’t get the hype of Jacob DeGrom or Noah Syndergaard, he’s been very good this season. The Mets have been knocking around left-handed pitching lately and outside of last night, the Braves bullpen has not been very good. Mets moneyline all day!
