2020-09-08 19:10:00 EDT
The Baltimore Orioles and the New York Mets meet Tuesday in MLB action from Citi Field.
The Orioles played a four-game set versus the Yankees this weekend. After dropping the first matchup, Baltimore won the final three games to take the series 3-1. As for the Mets, they played the Phillies this weekend. New York won two of the first three games, then in the Monday finale the Mets fell behind early but made a game of it, ultimately losing 9-8. Check back all season long for free MLB picks and MLB predictions at Sports Chat Place.
The Orioles have been able to find some timely offense lately. Anthony Santander leads the way with 11 homers, 32 RBI, 24 runs and a .268 batting average. Hanser Alberto is hitting .321 with 24 runs and 14 RBI, and Renato Nunez holds a .270 BA with 22 runs, 37 hits, nine homers and 22 RBI so far.
In the Tuesday starting pitcher role, the Orioles will go with John Means. In his six starts this year, Means is 0-3 with an 8.10 ERA and 12 strikeouts in 20.0 innings. Means is a career 4.29 pitcher in the MLB with a 12-14 record and 137 Ks in 178.1 innings total.
Over on the Mets’ side, they were down 6-0 at one point during the loss Monday, but took the lead with seven runs over the next three frames. Jeff McNeil hit a three-run homer among his two hits in the defeat.
In Tuesday’s outing, the Mets will start with Michael Wacha. This season Wacha is 1-2 over five starts with a 7.20 ERA and 27 Ks in 20.0 innings. On his career, Wacha is 60-41 with a 3.98 ERA and 786 Ks in 887.2 innings.
The Orioles are 6-0 in their last six interleague road games and 8-3 in their last 11 interleague games. Baltimore is 124-263 in their last 387 overall and 105-226 in their last 331 games as an underdog.
Meanwhile, the Mets are 16-7 in their last 23 interleague games and 2-5 in their last seven interleague games as a favorite. New York is 1-5 in the last six Tuesday games and 2-6 in their last eight home games versus a left-handed starter.
Pick: I’m leaning Mets here, but really this seems like a coin-flip game at these odds. It’s going to come down to which pitchers are on for which teams, and the starters here haven’t done well lately. Means gave up four runs in five-plus to the Mets on Wednesday, and Wacha will probably be on a 70-or-so pitch count in this one. It’ll probably come down to opportunistic hitting against each bullpen late in the game. New York seems a better bet in that scenario, but this is probably one to stay away from.
