Mets vs Braves Odds
| Mets Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Moneyline | Over/Under | Run Line |
-145 | 7.5 -115o / -105u | -1.5 +150 |
| Braves Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Moneyline | Over/Under | Run Line |
+120 | 7.5 -115o / -105u | +1.5 |
All of a sudden, the toast of New York isn't the Yankees, but the Mets, who are on the doorstep of the top Wild Card spot in the National League.
Granted, the Yankees own a better record than the Mets, but the boys from Flushing are coming off a season sweep of the Bronx Bombers, while edging the Braves in extra innings on Thursday night for their fourth consecutive win.
New York sits a half-game back of Atlanta for the first Wild Card spot in the NL heading into Friday night action, as the Mets turn to one of their prized starters from 2023, Kodai Senga, who is making his season debut tonight.
Let's break down the latest MLB odds and get to my Mets vs. Braves pick and prediction for Friday, July 26.
New York Mets
Fresh off capturing a pair of wins at Yankee Stadium, the Mets showed no signs of slowing down by edging the Braves in 10 innings, 3-2 on Jeff McNeil's walk-off RBI single. Francisco Lindor continued his tear at the plate with a go-ahead two-run homer off Chris Sale in the third inning, extending his hitting streak to 10 games.
The Mets improved to 10-3 since July 9, which includes an excellent 6-1 mark at Citi Field in this span.
New York has capitalized off a series opening home win this season by posting a 6-1 record in the previous seven Game 2s at Citi Field off a victory.
Kodai Senga inked a five-year deal with the Mets prior to the 2023 season and delivered a 12-7 mark with a 2.98 ERA and 202 strikeouts in his rookie campaign.
However, Senga has not pitched for the Mets this season, dealing with a right shoulder strain as he is finally cleared to make his 2024 debut in a pivotal spot as New York has an opportunity to jump Atlanta for the top Wild Card spot.
Last season, Senga faced the Braves once, which came at Citi Field in mid-August. Senga allowed three runs in the opening inning, but the Mets rallied back for a 7-6 victory. After Marcell Ozuna delivered a bases-clearing double in the first inning, Senga yielded two hits over the next five innings to grab the win.
The Mets have started games well of late by posting a 7-2-2 mark in the last 11 games in the first five innings, while scoring at least three runs in the first five innings in 10 of the past 14 home contests.
Tonight's first five innings total for the Mets sits at 2.5, and the over is plus-money at +120 at several books.
Atlanta Braves
The Braves are in a bit of a free fall at the moment by dropping five consecutive games, which includes four home defeats in this stretch to the Reds and Cardinals by multiple runs.
Atlanta's best showing during this cold stretch actually came on Thursday in New York as Sale and the Braves' pitching staff limited the Mets to three hits.
However, the Braves' lineup took a major hit when second baseman Ozzie Albies suffered a fractured wrist against the Cardinals on Sunday and is expected to miss up to eight weeks.
The duo of Nacho Alvarez and Zack Short has gone 1-of-11 at the plate in three games at second base in place of Albies, while Atlanta's offense has produced two runs or less in three of the past four games.
Charlie Morton bounced back from a pair of subpar outings to silence the Cardinals' bats in Atlanta's last win back on July 20, a 3-2 home triumph in 10 innings. Morton allowed one run in six innings of work, but the Braves own a dreadful 1-6 record this season in the right-hander's next start following a win in his previous outing.
Atlanta is riding a 1-5 cold stretch in Morton's past six road starts, but that lone victory came at Citi Field over the Mets on May 10 as the Braves won 4-2. Morton turned in one of his best outings of the season by tossing seven innings and striking out seven, while yielding three hits.
Mets vs. Braves
Betting Pick & Prediction
There is a lot of anticipation for Senga's season debut, as this Mets' team is riding high following its two wins in the Bronx and last night's walk-off triumph.
However, Morton is in a rare underdog role against the Mets, who has been a substantial favorite in his past three outings versus New York.
Let's go with the Braves here to break their losing streak and top the Mets to remain atop the NL Wild Card standings.
