Media by Associated Press – New York Mets’ Luis Guillorme during the fifth inning of a baseball game against the Washington Nationals, Tuesday, May 31, 2022, in New York. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer)
The two teams with the best records in the National League meet up this weekend as the West-leading Los Angeles Dodgers (34-17) host the East-leading New York Mets (35-18).
Game 1 of the series went to the Dodgers 2-0, ending the Mets’ six-game winning streak. Friday’s contest is set for 10:10 p.m. ET at Dodger Stadium, airing locally in both markets.
The Mets will send RHP Chris Bassitt (4-2, 3.66) to the mound against Dodgers LHP Tyler Anderson (6-0, 2.90) on Friday. Last year the Dodgers dominated the Mets 6-1, including a 3-1 series win at home. The teams didn’t meet in 2020, and the Mets last won a series in Los Angeles in 2018.
Mets’ Offense Finally Shut Down
The Mets are 7-3 as the underdog this season. They are 16-10 on the road and 10-7 against teams from the NL West. New York is 8-8 against LHP and had scored at least five runs in six straight games before Thursday’s loss.
The Mets not only lost the game on Thursday, but Francisco Lindor injured his finger closing a hotel door before the game and was unavailable. The Mets are hoping he can grip a bat to at least DH on Friday. Lindor has at least one RBI in 10 straight games, hitting .365 in that stretch, and he’s third in the NL with 43 RBI overall.
New York had just three hits on Thursday, a double from J.D. Davis and singles by Luis Guillorme and Jeff McNeil. On the season, Guillorme is batting .360 while McNeil is at .320. Pete Alonso leads the Mets with 13 home runs and 47 RBI.
Bassitt has taken four straight no-decisions since winning in Philadelphia on May 8. Last time out, he allowed just one run on two hits over six innings against the Phillies after allowing eight runs on eight hits against the Giants on May 24. He has one career start against the Dodgers last April, allowing two homers, four runs, and nine hits in a loss.
He has faced eight players on the Dodgers roster, allowing a home run to Edwin Rios. Rios and Austin Barnes, and Justin Turner are all 2-for-3 against the righty. Mookie Betts is 1-for-4, Chris Taylor is 0-for-1, and Bassitt has never faced Freddie Freeman, Trea Turner, or Cody Bellinger.
Dodgers Bounce Back Thursday
The Dodgers are 29-21 as the favorites this season and 16-8 overall at home. They are 8-6 against teams from the NL East and 21-12 against RHP. The Dodgers were swept at home this week by Pittsburgh, allowing 19 runs in the series after going 12 straight games, allowing four or less.
Gavin Lux, Taylor, and Betts all had two hits on Thursday, while Justin Turner and Trea Turner added doubles. Betts and Justin Turner drove in runs, and four Dodgers hurlers blanked the Mets on three hits and one walk.
Betts leads the team with a .310 average and 16 home runs. Trea Turner has a team-high 41 RBI, five more than Betts, while Freeman has 19 doubles and 30 RBI. The Dodgers are hitting .253 as a team with 60 home runs in 51 games.
Anderson has won three straight starts, allowing two runs over 21 innings. On the season, he has 48 strikeouts to just six walks over 49 ⅔ innings of work. Anderson has gone at least five innings in six straight starts and struck out at least five batters in five straight outings.
Anderson beat the Mets last season and is 1-1 in three career starts against them. He has faced eight Mets hitters in his career, allowing a home run to Brandon Nimmo, who is 3-for-6. Alonso is 0-for-2 against Anderson, while Lindor is 0-for-3, Eduardo Escobar is 2-for-11, Starling Marte is 3-for-13, and Mark Canha is 2-for-8.
Betting Analysis
- New York Mets +1.5 run line (-145) moneyline +145
- Los Angeles Dodgers -1.5 run line (+125) moneyline -165
- Run Total: 8.5 Over -110. Under -110.
The Dodgers have an advantage in starting pitching in this game though they have been slumping as of late. The Mets hit 30 points lower against lefties, and the power is down as well. They will need to bounce back from Thursday’s rare shutout and get on the board early.
Betting Pick: Dodgers -1.5 (+125)
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