Mets Head into Thursday’s Game Against the Braves as MLB Betting Underdogs

The New York Mets are really short-handed in their pitching staff with the injury to ace Noah Syndergaard. One guy the Mets could target in a trade is the guy facing them on Thursday in Atlanta: Jamie Garcia. He and the Braves are likely to be small favorites in the series finale. The Mets are coming off a 3 series game against the Washington Nationals this past weekend, ending it at 2-1. The Braves also are coming off a 2-1 series win against the Milwaukee Brewers this past weekend. Right now, the series in Atlanta is tied 1-1. Who will win the series? Let’s see what the MLB lines are looking like.

NY Mets at Atlanta MLB Pick & Betting Prediction

Jay Bruce crushed 2 homers and tallied 6 RBI last night. His grand slam was our first of the year. https://t.co/HrjU4uyWcr #Mets pic.twitter.com/hUq45BF6Vb

— New York Mets (@Mets) May 3, 2017

When: Thursday, May 4, 7:35 PM ET Where: Sun Trust Park, Atlanta Probable pitchers (away/home): Zack Wheeler/Jamie Garcia TV: MLB Extra Innings Stream: MLB.tv Radio: New York / Atlanta Opening MLB Lines: TBA

Why Bet On NY Mets?

The Mets placed Syndergaard on the DL earlier this week with a a partial tear of his right lat muscle, and he’s likely going to miss at least six weeks if not longer. Syndergaard left his start against the Washington Nationals in the bottom of the second inning Sunday, grabbing his right side after throwing a pitch to Bryce Harper. He had allowed five runs on five hits in the first inning during a 23-5 Nationals win. He had missed his previous start Thursday due to biceps and shoulder discomfort. He had been scheduled for an MRI on Friday but declined to have one after throwing a bullpen session. Rafael Montero is expected to take his spot in the rotation on Friday, which is quite the downgrade for the scuffling Mets. The Mets also have Seth Lugo and Steven Matz on the DL, so they could be looking for pitching later this summer – unless they are still in last place. If the Mets aren’t in contention later this season, they could start a fire sale. They’d love to dump outfielder Curtis Granderson. He has batted just .124/.177/.213 through 96 plate appearances this season for New York. The Mets have hit at least one home run in 10 of their road games. The only road game the Mets did not go deep this year was April 16 at Miami. The Mets have 25 road home runs, tied for the most in the majors with San Diego. Hansel Robles is tied for second in the majors with four wins. Robles leads all major league relievers with four wins. He has tossed 10.1 scoreless innings with 13 strikeouts dating to April 13. It’s Zack Wheeler (1-2) on the mound. Wheeler was unable to make it through the fifth inning on Saturday, allowing two runs (one earned) on five hits in a no-decision against the Nationals. Wheeler walked four and struck out four on the day, needing 96 pitches to record 14 outs. Had he been able to finish the fifth, he could have earned his second win of the season. Wheeler now owns a 4.78 ERA, 1.25 WHIP and 25/10 K/BB ratio through 26 1/3 innings in his first five starts. Efficiency remains Wheeler’s primary bugaboo. In two of his five starts, he has been unable to complete five innings, and in two of the other three, he has not gone longer than 5 2/3. Wheeler will be making his first 2017 start against the Braves.

Why Bet On Atlanta?

Mauricio Cabrera (elbow) tossed three scoreless innings through two minor league rehab appearances with High-A Florida earlier this week. Cabrera, who began the season on the DL with right elbow inflammation, has allowed one hit and two walks while striking out three. The Braves will likely want him to pitch on back-to- back days before bringing him back from the disabled list, but he doesn’t appear to be far off. The hard-throwing 23-year- old posted a 2.82 ERA and 35/22 K/BB ratio over 33 2/3 innings as a rookie last season and could quickly secure a late-inning role in the Braves’; bullpen.1B Freddie Freeman hit his ninth home run of the season Sunday, a day after stealing his fourth base. Freeman became the first player in Atlanta franchise history to finish April with at least nine home runs and four stolen bases. Since 2000, only eight other MLB players have accomplished those marks by the end of the season’s first full month. Freeman played in all 23 of Atlanta’s games last month. In MLB’’s modern era (since 1900), among players who played in the same amount or fewer games by the end of April as Freeman, only 10 other players have reached nine homers and four steals. The Braves finished April with the sixth-best team batting average in the majors at .263, and the 11 th best slugging percentage at .417. Last season, the Braves offense finished the season’s first month with an MLB-worst .289 slugging percentage. It’s lefty Jaime Garcia (1-1, 3.99) on the mound here. Garcia allowed two runs on three hits and five walks while striking out three batters over six innings during Saturday's win over Milwaukee. It was a solid outing from Garcia, as the Brewers have scored the third-most runs in the majors. Additionally, the lefty has allowed exactly two runs in each of his past three outings for a 2.95 ERA.

NY Mets at Atlanta MLB Betting Pick: Atlanta Braves

This wasn’t expected, but the Braves are simply better than the Mets this year and Garcia has been solid.