National League contenders are set to meet tonight in The Bay. Yesterday, it was the Mets who came out on top with a dominant 8-1 win. However, the Giants will attempt to bounce back with one of baseball’s best starters, Robbie Ray. Can San Francisco exact some revenge on New York? Below, I’ve laid out my preview, prediction, and best bet for Saturday’s matchup between the Mets and the Giants.
The Giants are favorites (-115) over the Mets, with the over/under set at 7.5 runs. Let’s break down which side has the edge on DraftKings Sportsbook entering tonight’s contest.
Mets vs. Giants prediction, preview
As is usually the case for the Giants, this team revolves around a terrific pitching staff. Opponents are scoring 4.04 runs per game against San Francisco, the league’s ninth-lowest mark. Arguably the most consistent arm in this rotation is Robbie Ray. Following a few injury-plagued seasons, the right-hander has bounced back in a major way. Through 123.1 innings, the 33-year-old has accounted for a 2.92 ERA, 1.13 WHIP, and 9.6 K/9. Unsurprisingly, those numbers were good enough to warrant a second career All-Star Game nod. Ray has allowed three earned runs or less in 19 of his 21 starts.
The former Cy Young winner will have his work cut out for him on Saturday. The Mets are filled with several high-profile hitters, including Juan Soto, Francisco Lindor and Pete Alonso. Still, it’s fair to say this lineup has underperformed, albeit slightly. New York is averaging 4.41 runs per game, the 14th-lowest mark in baseball. At Oracle Park, one of baseball’s most hitter-friendly venues, scoring might be hard to come by for the visitors.
It’ll be up to David Peterson to keep San Francisco’s offense in check. The left-hander has been phenomenal this season, emerging as a force in this Mets rotation. Over 20 starts, the 29-year-old has posted career-best marks in ERA (2.90), WHIP (1.21), and BB/9 (3.0). Peterson enters tonight on a hot streak, surrendering two combined runs over his last three outings (0.92 ERA). The same can’t be said for the Giants, who have scored the league’s 11th-fewest runs this month (81).
Mets vs. Giants pick, best bet
Best Bet: Mets ML (-106)
With respect to Ray, this pitching matchup is fairly close to even. At the plate, New York has a definitive edge. Riding into Saturday on a five-game win streak, the Mets clearly have more momentum as well. Keeping that in mind, expect a win for the visitors tonight.
