As they make their first visit to the Big Apple this season, the defending-champion Atlanta Braves find themselves looking up at the division-leading New York Mets. The two teams cross paths for the first of a four-game series Monday.
New York (16-7) has won five of its last seven — including a 10-6 decision against Philadelphia Sunday. The Mets haven’t yet lost a series this year and are a combined 7-3 against National League East opponents to this point.
They currently stand six games above the Braves (10-13) in their grouping’s standings. Atlanta’s bars haven’t had the best go of it over the last week and the team has dropped five of eight.
Of batters with at least 14 plate appearances over the last seven days, only one — second baseman Travis Demeritte — has an average over .286. In 24 total trips to the batter’s box, he’s hit .375.
More Braves players will have to strive to post similar numbers if the team wants to get back to anywhere near last fall’s form.
Second baseman Ozzie Albies and third baseman Austin Riley have both clubbed six home runs.
Braves at Mets Odds
The Mets are favored to continue their hot streak in this one. New York is -1.5 on the run line at +164, while the Braves are -200 to cover the spread.
On the moneyline, the Mets are -134 and Atlanta is a +114 underdog. The total has been set at seven runs, with the over being -104 and the under -118 at the time of this writing.
When you take a look at how New York’s offense has been rolling, them being the favorite comes as no surprise. They rank second in the NL with a combined .262 average, which helps explain these MLB odds. Their .344 on-base percentage is the highest in the majors.
The team’s runs have come by stringing together useful at-bats. The Mets’ 18 home runs rank near the bottom third of the league.
In particular, over the past week, Jeff McNeil and Mark Canha have swung the lumber well, hitting .429 and .381, respectively.
More will look to boost their numbers against the Braves’ Max Fried. Against lefties, New York has five hitters who have gone .278 or better at the dish, including shortstop Francisco Lindor.
Starling Marte has driven in 18 runs, more than anybody but Colorado’s CJ Cron (21).
Matchup Information
Braves at Mets Betting Preview
On the bump for the Mets, eighth-year right-hander Chris Bassitt has posted a 3-1 record thus far. In his last time out, at St. Louis last Tuesday, he went six innings and gave up only two hits on the way to a 3-0 victory.
It was the second time in 2022 that Bassitt pitched that many frames and allowed only a pair of knocks, as he did so against Arizona on April 15.
He’s spent 24 innings on the mound so far in his initial go-round in New York and his 0.92 WHIP is up there with the best in the big leagues.
To go with its hitting success, New York has the next-to-lowest ERA (2.99) and hits allowed (145) in the NL. Only the Los Angeles Dodgers have better marks in those categories.
Atlanta’s Fried would likely be happy to replicate his previous performance. Against the Chicago Cubs last week, he let only one across — that being a solo homer — in a 3-1 triumph.
In his sixth season in a Braves uniform, Fried has a career 3.32 ERA in 99 appearances.
Braves at Mets Picks and Predictions
Taking into account how this Mets’ offense has performed early in the campaign, combined with the fact that Bassitt has conceded one earned run or less in only two of his last nine outings, this should be among the simplest MLB picks today.
Although it appears that the Braves’ Fried has found a bit of a groove, New York should be able to figure him out and keep it going with an effective mix of solid hitting and pitching prowess.
Seven total runs seems like too much, however. This one will resemble more of a pitcher’s duel than a high-scoring clash.
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