Dodgers vs Mets Betting Odds: It’s Now or Never for Woeful New York
Despite MLB-Record Payroll, Mets Sit 7 Games Out of NL Wild Card
At one point, the New York Mets were seen as a legitimate threat to the Los Angeles Dodgers atop the National League. No longer is that the case.
Despite a record payroll, the Mets entered the MLB All-Star break six games under .500 and well on their way to missing the playoffs. It doesn’t seem as if that’ll change, but beating Los Angeles would certainly help New York’s case.
The Mets host the Dodgers for a three-game series, starting Friday at Citi Field. Los Angeles is a -117 favorite to win outright in the opener, with New York priced at +107. The projected total is 8.5 -105/-115. Read on as we break down the Dodgers vs Mets betting odds.
Buy or Sell for New York?
The New York Mets have been a massive disappointment. There’s no other way to put it. After raising payroll to an MLB-record $348 million, owner Steve Cohen has watched his team flop.At 42-48, the Mets are just 6.0 games out of the NL East cellar. Given the expectations in spring training (+800 to win the World Series), it’s mind-boggling.
What’s behind New York’s struggles? Injuries, underperformance, you name it. Essentially, anything that could go wrong, has gone wrong. Unfortunately, the Mets’ fortunes may not improve anytime soon, at least not before they’re forced to go into sell mode at the trade deadline.
Sitting 7.0 games out of the third and final NL Wild Card spot, New York has a lot of ground to make up in short order. Oddsmakers are pessimistic they can do so, listing them at -500 to miss the playoffs.
Pitching has been the Mets’ biggest issue. The Mets rank 20th in ERA (4.39), 21st in WHIP (1.35) and have allowed the sixth-most home runs in baseball (119). Both Max Scherzer and Justin Verlander have struggled with injury and underperformance, magnifying issues for a staff that is missing All-Star closer Edwin Diaz. Keep that in mind as you assess the Dodgers vs Mets betting odds.
LA in Good Standing
All is well with the Los Angeles Dodgers. Did you expect anything different? The Dodgers (51-38) went 7-3 to close the first half and are currently tied with the Arizona Diamondbacks atop the NL West. Oddsmakers are pricing them at -300 to win the division and -1400 to make the playoffs, which is no surprise given their success over the past several seasons.
Outside of the Atlanta Braves, who are seemingly running away with the NL’s best record (60-29), few can compete with Los Angeles. The Dodgers rank second in baseball in home runs (149), third in OPS (.786) and fourth in runs (494).
Outfielder Mookie Betts is once again fueling Los Angeles’ lineup. With 26 homers in 86 games, Betts is on pace to shatter his career high of 35 set last season. He’s also tied with teammate Freddie Freeman for second in runs (72), and his .964 OPS ranks third behind Shohei Ohtani and Ronald Acuna Jr., the two favorites for MVP. Betts currently has the second-best MVP odds at +600, while Freeman’s at +1400. They’re two big reasons why Los Angeles are firmly ahead in the Dodgers vs Mets standings.
Odds Outlook
New York currently owns the third-worst record in MLB against the run line at 37-53. It hasn’t been any better at home (16-23).That’s an important factor to remember when analyzing the Dodgers vs Mets betting odds.
Conversely, the Dodgers have been far more profitable, going 48-41 ATS, including 25-19 on the road. They’re also an MLB-best 51-33 against the Over.
Game 1
- Justin Verlander vs Julio Urias (Friday, 7:10 p.m. ET)
The 40-year-old Verlander has struggled to recapture the form that helped him win the American League Cy Young with Houston in 2022. In 12 starts since returning from the injured list with a muscle strain near his pitching shoulder, Verlander is 3-4 with a 3.60 ERA. He’s been better in July (1.38), but questions remain about his longevity as a top-of-the-rotation starter.
Los Angeles will counter with Urias, who is 6-5 with a 4.76 ERA. The 26-year-old left-hander finished the first half strong, allowing just two runs over six innings in a July 6 victory over Pittsburgh. This could be one of the day’s best MLB pitching matchups.
Game 2
- Kodai Senga vs TBD (Saturday, 7:15 p.m. ET)
Senga has been a bright spot for New York. Signed to a five-year, $75 million contract in December, the Japanese right-hander owns a 3.31 ERA with 113 strikeouts and was named an All-Star. Senga’s struggled with his control at times (47 walks in 89.2 innings), but his vaunted “ghost fork” is among the nastiest pitches in baseball. Senga is currently +8000 to win NL Rookie of the Year.
Game 3
- Max Scherzer vs TBD (Sunday, 1:40 p.m. ET)
Scherzer has been pedestrian at best in his second season with New York, recording a 4.31 ERA. The three-time Cy Young winner — who turns 39 later this month — has allowed 18 home runs in 87.2 innings, five more than all of 2022. Is his age finally showing?
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