No offense in the majors has been struggling more than that of the New York Mets (40-40 SU, -2.54 Units). It's probably not the best time in the world to run into the best one-two punch of pitchers in the bigs, but that's what the Los Angeles Dodgers (45-35 SU, -6.35 Units) are bringing into the Fourth of July weekend.
ODDS ANALYSIS
The one thing to be careful about with Zack Greinke, LA's pitcher on Saturday, is the fact that he’s starting to get the Clayton Kershaw treatment in terms of his odds. He has been laying big prices of late, and the fact that the team is only 2-3 in his last five starts has cost bettors 2.46 units. He'll probably be at least -180 in this game as well even though the Mets have a great pitcher on the mound as well in Matt Harvey.
PITCHING MATCHUP
There really isn't much that Greinke is doing wrong right now. He has allowed just three runs in his last five starts in totality, and he has put up zeroes in 20.2 consecutive innings dating back three starts. The righty has allowed one run or fewer in six consecutive home starts.
It's not like Harvey has been a slouch either. Sure, he is just 7-5, and many expected better than his 2.99 ERA. Remember though, that he’s had two outings since the end of May in which he allowed seven runs. In his last three outings, his WHIP is 0.86, and he’s allowed one earned run and one unearned run in those 19.2 innings.
QUOTE TO NOTE
"We've tried a lot of things, and we will continue to search and look for a remedy. We've got to flip-flop some guys somehow and shake it up a little bit." – Mets manager Terry Collins on his ailing offense
SITUATIONAL BETTING
The only thing the Mets have going for them is that they haven't had to use their bullpen all that much thanks to their awesome starters. Jacob deGrom was blown up on Thursday night, but the team had gone nine straight outings, two of which were by Harvey, in which starters had completed six or more innings prior to that.
That bullpen has an amazing 1.50 ERA since this horrid streak of 12 games out of 14 scoring two runs or fewer has started.
At least it's not all doom and gloom in what has suddenly been dubbed "Panic City."
PROP TALK
We're a little worried about Adrian Gonzalez right now. His power demonstrated from the start of the season has pretty much evaporated, and he has just two hits in his last 10 at bats heading into this series. Don Mattingly did give him a day off on Wednesday to go with Thursday's off day, so that might get A-Gon started again, but against Harvey, we wouldn't bet on it.
ANALYSIS AND PREDICTION
There's a legitimate question as to whether the Mets are going to score a single run in these two games against Kershaw and Greinke.
New York's offense has been abysmal, and though the Dodgers haven't exactly given Greinke all that much help lately, they'll get just enough off of the Dark Knight to send the Metropolitans to another defeat.
Los Angeles 3, New York 0
The baseball betting odds for this Saturday game will first be available at BookMaker Sportsbook. BookMaker is going to have multiple betting options available for this televised baseball matchup. Live wagering during commercials offers an adjusted moneyline, individual inning run totals and next hitter results. Log in and start gambling during the game now!
Need to fund your account before the big game but don't have your computer? No problem! BookMaker Sportsbook now offers a mobile betting cashier so you can deposit money directly from your smartphone or tablet. Don't miss out on getting paid because you couldn't bet. Click here and deposit at BookMaker now! The duel between the New York Mets and the Los Angeles Dodgers will take place Saturday, July 4, 2015 at 7:15 p.m. ET at Dodgers Stadium in Los Angeles, CA. Catch the action live on FOX.
