Media by Associated Press – New York Mets’ James McCann during the fourth inning of a baseball game against the Miami Marlins Thursday, July 7, 2022, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
The National League East-leading New York Mets (52-31) blew out the Miami Marlins (39-42) 10-0 on Thursday to open a four-game series at home. The win gives the Mets a 3.5-game lead in the division, and they are one win behind the LA Dodgers for most wins in the NL. Friday’s game at Citi Field in New York starts at 7:10 p.m. ET, airing locally in both markets.
The Mets will start RHP Chris Bassitt (6-5, 4.01) against Marlins RHP Pablo Lopez (5-4, 2,97). The Mets lead the season series 6-2 with a 4-1 record at home. Last year they won the season series 10-9, and they are 22-13 against Miami since the start of the 2020 season.
Mets Rolling Toward All-Star Break
The Mets have scored 18 runs in their last two games and 29 in the last five, going 4-1 in the span. They are 27-13 at home this season and 36-17 against right-handed pitchers. They have dominated their fellow NL East opponents, going 25-9 on the season.
The bats were ready to go again for the Mets on Thursday with ten runs on 12 hits in the series opener. J.D. Davis went 3-for-4 with a grand slam and five RBI, while Jeff McCann hit a three-run homer. Starling Marte had three hits in the win, and Mark Canha had two while scoring twice.
Jeff McNeil leads the Mets with a .316 average, and Marte is up to .294 after Thursday’s performance. Pete Alonso is among the NL leaders with 22 home runs and 69 RBI, but he didn’t play Thursday after collecting four hits against the Reds on Wednesday. Francisco Lindor has 13 home runs and 57 RBI to go with a .241 average.
Bassitt is 2-3 in his last five starts, and he missed his last scheduled outing while landing on the COVID list after reporting symptoms and testing positive. He last pitched on June 25 in a road win over Miami with three runs allowed over seven innings. Bassitt’s last two starts have been against the Marlins, with a loss at home on June 19 as he allowed three runs over 6⅓ innings.
Bryan De La Cruz and Jesus Sanchez both have homers off Bassitt this season. Jesus Aguilar and Garrett Cooper are both 1-for-3, while Miguel Rojas is 2-for-6. Bassitt has his most success against Avisail Garcia, who is 0-for-5, while catcher Jacob Stallings is 1-for-6.
Miami’s Offense Disappearing
The Marlins have lost two in a row after winning six straight. During their win streak, they scored at least four runs in four straight games and allowed four or less in all six. They are 19-25 away from home this season, 28-35 against RHP, and 22-15 against the NL East.
Miami had just two hits in Thursday’s loss, and they struck out nine times. Rojas had a double, and Aguilar had a single for the only two hits against Mets starter Trevor Williams. They didn’t draw a walk in the contest and left just one runner on base in the 10-0 loss.
Miami has four players in double digits home run wise, led by infielder Jazz Chisholm with 14. He also has 45 RBI, while Aguilar has 13 homers and 35 RBI, and Jorge Soler has 13 homers with 34 driven in. Cooper leads the Marlins with a .308 average and 20 doubles.
Lopez has gone at least five innings in four straight starts but has just one win in his last seven outings. On the season, he has allowed ten homers in 94 innings while striking out 93 and walking 27. Lopez took a no-decision at Washington on Sunday, allowing two runs on three hits over 6⅓ innings.
He lost to the Mets on the road on June 19, allowing seven runs on eight hits over 5⅓ innings. Lindor, McNeil, and Eduardo Escobar all have home runs off Lopez, while J.D. Davis is 5-for-10. Alonso is 2-for-11 against the right-hander, while Marte is 1-for-6.
Betting Analysis
- New York Mets -1.5 (+135) Moneyline -155
- Miami Marlins +1.5 (-155) Moneyline +135
- Total Runs 7.5 Over -115. Under -105
The Mets hit Lopez hard last month, and the bats have been in great form this week after a brief slump. Miami needs to get to Bassitt early to regain some confidence and get on top of the Mets to make them play from behind. New York has been great at home this season, and that doesn’t appear to be slowing down at all.
Betting Pick: Mets -1.5 (-105)
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