The Mets are coming off a sweep of the Rockies and enter their second series against the Dodgers this season. New York won the first series 2-1 and will look to continue its excellence into June.
Meanwhile, the Dodgers are coming off a series victory against the Yankees. It’s the first time they faced each other since the 2024 World Series, and despite major pitching staff injuries, Los Angeles’ offense looked sharp.
The Dodgers are -155 on the moneyline, and the game total is set at 9.5 runs on DraftKings Sportsbook. The Mets are +130 on the moneyline.
Here’s my prediction and pick for Monday’s Mets vs. Dodgers matchup.
Mets vs. Dodgers prediction
Don’t look now but Juan Soto has homered in two straight games. Normally this shouldn’t be a big deal since Soto is one of the best hitters in baseball, but he hasn’t been his typical self to start the year.
He had just eight home runs heading into the Rockies vs. Mets series and now has 10. Before his ninth homer on May 31, he last hit one out on May 9. Luckily, New York hasn’t needed him to win games. It holds a 37-22 record, one of the best in MLB.
The offense is about league average, but the pitching has been excellent despite preseason concerns. New York allows the fewest runs per game but will be tasked with a potent Los Angeles lineup.
The Mets stymied the Dodgers last time they met, but that’s not always a possibility when Shohei Ohtani, Mookie Betts and Freddie Freeman step into the box.
Mets vs. Dodgers pick, best bet
The Mets are expected to start Paul Blackburn for Monday’s tilt. It will be his first start of the 2025 season after dealing with a knee issue. He pitched to a 4.66 ERA across 75.1 innings between the Athletics and Mets last year.
It won’t be a pleasant first start for the veteran as he will face one of the best offenses in baseball. The Dodgers should get on the board early and force New York to use its bullpen.
The Dodgers will be starting Dustin May, who hasn’t had the strongest 2025 season. May holds a 4.20 ERA through 55.2 innings and has allowed at least three earned runs in five of his last seven starts. The Mets could also take advantage of him, leading to a potential high-scoring game.
The game total is set at 9.5 which is a hefty mark, but it’s more than doable. The pitching isn’t great, and the Dodgers are averaging the most runs per game (5.81) in MLB. The Mets will chip in as well, making this over a nice play for Monday night.