The Mets took Saturday’s game 8-3 with a five-run sixth inning. Dominic Smith collected three hits and drove in three while Brandon Nimmo, Francisco Lindor, Jeff McNeil, and Jose Peraza also turned in multi-hit efforts.
Mets Trying to Get Back on Track
The Mets are the only team in the NL East over .500, and their lead is now three games over the Washington Nationals. They lost four of five to end June before winning Saturday at Yankee Stadium.
The Mets have struggled on the road this season, going just 18-25 but posting a 24-11 home record. Including this Yankees series, they will play ten games in a row in New York City before the All-Star break.
Nimmo gave the offense a boost with his return from the injured list, and he’s taken over the leadoff spot with Jonathan Villar out. Pete Alonso leads the Mets with 13 homers and 40 RBI, while Lindor has nine homers and 41 runs scored.
Stroman has a lot of outings against the Yankees, both with the Mets and from his Toronto days. Aaron Judge has touched him up for four homers and eight hits in 18 at-bats. Game two will likely be a bullpen game before the Mets start a series with the red-hot Milwaukee Brewers on Monday.
Yankees Fading in the Summer Heat
The Yankees are just 41-40 overall and 22-21 at home after posting a losing June (12-14) and a Saturday loss to start July. They are 1-6 in the last seven games and batting just .235 as a team on the season. Things have gotten bad enough that owner Hal Steinbrenner had to give a public vote of confidence for GM Brian Cashman and manager Aaron Boone earlier this week.
Cole has struggled with the long ball recently, giving up three homers in a 9-2 loss at Boston on Sunday and allowing nine homers in five June starts. He has worked at least five innings in all 16 starts this season and has struck out at least six batters in four of the last five outings. He hasn’t faced the Mets often in his career, but Michael Conforto and James McCann boast homers off the ace.
Cortes has only faced four current members of the Mets lineup but has given up home runs to both Francisco Lindor (1-for-3) and Billy McKinney (1-for-2). James McCann and Dominic Smith are hitless against the lefty in a combined three at-bats. He joined the Yankees from Seattle at the end of May and has been dominant out of the bullpen over 17 ⅔ innings, and likely won’t go deep on Sunday.
Betting Analysis
The Yankees are favored in the opener at -175, with the Mets at +155 against Cole. Game two doesn’t have a line since the Mets have yet to announce a starter, and it likely won’t post until after the opener. The first-game total is six runs, with the over at -120 and the under at +100.
Taking the Mets in the opener is worth the risk, given the way both teams have played. Even with Cole on the mound, the Yankees bullpen has faltered recently, and the ace has been susceptible to the long ball. In game two give the over a look, even in a seven-inning game since both teams will have relievers on the mound throughout.
FREE PICK: Mets +155 in game one