The 2026 season has been a comedy of errors for the last place Mets (16-25). However, Wednesday provides New York with a rare opportunity to clinch a series, following last night’s 10-2 victory. The Tigers (19-23) have other plans, with offseason acquisition Framber Valdez on the mound. Can Detroit earn a win tonight at Citi Field?
The Mets are favorites (-120) over the Tigers, with the over/under set at eight runs. Below, I’ve laid out my preview, prediction, and best bet for Wednesday’s showdown between Detroit and New York on DraftKings Sportsbook.
Tigers vs. Mets prediction, preview
It’ll be Christian Scott on the mound to kick things off. After missing all of 2025 due to injury, the 27-year-old has been sharp during his return. In three games, the righty has recorded a 3.27 ERA, 1.18 WHIP and 15 strikeouts. It’s a small sample size, but starting pitching has been a major struggle for the Mets. Scott is not afraid to let it rip, throwing a fastball on 55% of his pitches. Even more impressive, the second-year pro is averaging 96.0 MPH on his four-seamer.
At the plate, hitting has been an issue for the Tigers. That’s not to say this group can’t hit at all; they’re averaging the 17th-most runs per game in baseball (4.63). On the road, that number dwindles to 3.83 per game, seventh-worst in the majors. The absences of slugger Kerry Carpenter (shoulder) and former All-Star Gleyber Torres (oblique) haven’t helped. As previously mentioned, Scott is a hurler that loves pumping the strike zone with heaters. Against fastballs of 96.0 MPH or faster, Detroit is batting .192 as a team.
The biggest headline in this one will be the return of Framber Valdez. After serving a five-game suspension, the southpaw is looking for a return to form. In his most recent showing against Boston, the 32-year-old coughed up seven earned runs over 3.0 innings. Through seven outings this season, Valdez is on the hook for a 4.57 ERA, 1.41 WHIP and 35 strikeouts. On paper, this appears to be an ideal spot for a bounce-back. The Mets own a National League-worst .608 OPS against left-handed pitching.
New York’s dormant offense received a much-needed spark last night from A.J. Ewing. The rookie notched two hits, two RBIs, three walks and a steal during his big league debut on Tuesday. Expecting a similar performance tonight is wishful thinking, but the 21-year-old could be the spark plug that gets this underperforming lineup going. As a unit, the Mets are averaging 3.63 runs per game, second-worst in baseball. Just two members of the roster with more than 100 plate appearances, Juan Soto and Francisco Alvarez, have posted a wRC+ above 100 this season. To make matters worse, the former is sidelined due to a right meniscus tear.
Tigers vs. Mets pick, best bet
It’s difficult to have much faith in either offense this evening. Scott has looked sharp during his first three games, while Valdez has a proven track record. Even more important, Detroit and New York have been the opposite of consistency at the plate. A handful of unfortunate injuries only makes these two lineups look more feeble. Both arms are poised for success tonight in Queens.
