Atlanta at NY Mets Game Info & MLB Betting Pick

One of the most lopsided trades in baseball this decade occurred between the New York Mets and Toronto Blue Jays a couple of years ago. The Mets sent R.A. Dickey to Toronto for prospects, led by Noah Syndergaard. Now he’s one of the best pitchers in baseball and will face the 42-year- old Dickey on Wednesday. The Mets will be huge MLB odds favorites.

Atlanta at NY Mets Game Info & MLB Betting Pick

When: Wednesday, April 26, 7:10 PM ET Where: Citi Field, New York Probable pitchers (away/home): R.A. Dickey/Noah Syndergaard TV: MLB Extra Innings Opening MLB Lines: TBA

Why Bet On Atlanta?

The Braves have made a minor trade, sending relief pitcher David Hernandez to the Los Angeles Angels on Monday. Hernandez joined the Braves in spring training and had spent the early part of the season pitching for Triple-A Gwinnett. The Braves will receive a player to be named later or cash from the Angels. What’s up with Braves young shortstop Dansby Swanson? After a stellar debut in 2016, expectations were through the roof for him this year. The 23-year- old shortstop was the No. 1 overall pick in the 2015 MLB Draft by Arizona and Swanson crashed the party late last season to the tune of a 107 wRC+ and above-average defensive performance at a premium position. This year, Swanson sports a .139/.162/.194 slash line over 74 plate appearances and that is good for a -6 wRC+. That is clearly not going to work moving forward and his strikeout rate (25.7 percent) dwarfs his minuscule walk rate (2.7 percent) is concerning fashion. It’s the knuckleballer Dickey on the mound (1-2, 3.86). Dickey has pitched well enough to win each of his first three starts. He quieted the Nationals’ lineup his last time out until a two-out walk to Bryce Harper gave Ryan Zimmerman a chance to drill a hanging knuckleball for a two-run homer. Dickey now boasts a 3.86 ERA and 1.39 WHIP through 18.2 innings, but his 13:7 K:BB and 5.18 FIP are reminders that those ratios could collapse in a hurry. Dickey arguably has his fondest baseball memories of his 22-year career during his three-year stint in the Big Apple where has won 39 career games, 20 when he captured the Cy Young Award in 2012. In 2012, it was a magical year for me and I also got a chance to see the Mets’ first no-hitter when Johan (Santana). There was a real connection with the working-class fan base of the Mets. There were so many good people during my time there,” Dickey said about going back to Citi Field.

Why Bet On NY Mets?

In December 2012 the Mets sent Dickey at his highest value after winning that Cy Young to the Blue Jays. New York got back highly regarded catching prospect Travis d’Arnaud, Class A right-hander Noah Syndergaard, and 18-year- old outfielder Wuilmer Becerra from Toronto. That has turned out to be a steal with how good Syndergaard has become. Dickey became the fourth reigning Cy Young winner tobe traded before the start of the next season, joining David Cone, Pedro Martinez and Roger Clemens. Syndergaard (1-1, 1.73) allowed five runs — three earned — on seven hits while striking out 10 batters over seven innings during Thursday’s loss to Philadelphia. While he didn’t secure the win, and it wasn’t Syndergaard’s sharpest outing, there were still positives from Thursday’s performance. The biggest was showcasing that there were no lingering effects from a torn fingernail that cut his last outing short, and he’s now up to 26 innings without issuing a walk. That ups him to an impressive 30:0 K:BB on the season. Syndergaard has always had elite velocity, but this year — in keeping with his preseason stated intentions — he has been on yet another level with the radar gun. After his four starts, his fastball is averaging 99.6 mph. Perhaps more astounding is that his changeup checks in at 91 and his slider at 93. He has also been in the strike zone a career-best 49.2 percent of the time this season, per FanGraphs (versus a league-average mark of 44.5 percent). Syndergaard going 26 innings without walking a batter to start the season is already a franchise record for starting pitchers. His 30 strikeouts without a free pass to start a season is a record since at least 1913. The Mets remain without first baseman Lucas Duda. He landed on the disabled last week with a hyperextended left elbow. He still needs to get the range of motion in his elbow back, but he’s making progress. Jay Bruce has been filling in at first base in recent days.

Atlanta at NY Mets Game Info & MLB Betting Pick

You shouldn’t be betting against Syndergaard unless maybe he’s facing Clayton Kershaw.