The New York Mets (74-64) and Detroit Tigers (80-59) tangle in the second game of a 3-game set Tuesday. The first pitch from Comerica Park is slated for 6:40 p.m. ET. Let’s analyze BetMGM Sportsbook’s MLB odds around the Mets vs. Tigers odds and make our expert MLB picks and predictions for the best bets.
Season series: Mets lead 1-0
New York snapped a 2-game losing streak and topped Detroit 10-8 in Monday’s series opener. RF Juan Soto homered (a grand slam) and tripled in a 6-RBI performance. A Mets nine that had struggled for much of August is 7-4 since Aug. 22.
The Tigers’ recent fortunes are nearly inverse to those of the Mets. Detroit went 11-2 from Aug. 10-22, but in 8 games since, the Bengals have had some pitching misfires and the club has gone 2-6.
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Mets at Tigers projected starters
RHP Nolan McLean vs. RHP Sawyer Gipson-Long
McLean (3-0, 0.89 ERA) is making his fourth start. The 24-year-old rookie has allowed 10 hits and 4 walks with 21 K’s through 20 1/3 innings.
Last start: Win, 8 IP, 0 ER, 4 H, 0 BB, 6 K in 6-0 home victory vs. Philadelphia Phillies WednesdayLogged a combined-levels 2.61 ERA prior to his Aug. 16 call-upHas never faced Tigers
Gipson-Long (0-1, 4.32 ERA) is making his third start and seventh appearance. The 27-year-old rookie has registered a 1.04 WHIP, 1.4 BB/9 and 7.2 K/9 through 25 innings.
Last pitched when he went 3 innings in a Thursday Triple-A gameLast MLB start: Loss, 5 1/3 IP, 3 ER, 4 H, 2 BB, 5 K in 4-1 home defeat vs. Minnesota Twins June 27Has never faced Mets
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Mets at Tigers odds
Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 9:50 a.m. ET.
Moneyline (ML): Mets -135 (bet $135 to win $100) | Tigers +115 (bet $100 to win $115)Run line (RL)/Against the spread (ATS): Mets -1.5 (+125) | Tigers +1.5 (-150)Over/Under (O/U): 8.5 (O: -120 | U: +100)Mets at Tigers picks and predictionsPrediction
Mets 5, Tigers 3
The Mets have banged out a .959 OPS over their last 11 games.
Over their last 8 games, the Tigers have posted a 5.32 ERA and a 1.41 WHIP. And Detroit does not have its best foot forward on the mound in this game. Gipson-Long has been mostly a 3- and 4-frame hurler at Triple-A Toledo, and an average-yet-likely-overrated Tiger relief corps could be on the hook for too much of this contest.
McLean has been sharp for the Mets, and New York has some room for growth compared to its expected winning percentage based on scoring profile and statistical peripherals.
BACK THE METS (-135).
No interest; PASS.
These are 2 first-division offensive clubs. New York is averaging 4.78 runs per game (10th MLB), and Detroit is averaging 4.81 (eighth). But both clubs have some luck factors tilting those numbers just a tad.
McLean has been excellent through his first 3 Major League starts. Against a pair of first-division offenses — Atlanta and Philadelphia — over his last 2 starts, the rookie righty has whiffed 13 without allowing a walk. He’s a potential gem for the Mets to leverage in their pennant push. Mix in rested back ends of both bullpens and an inward breeze in the Comerica Park weather forecast, and tab the UNDER 8.5 (+100).
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