Cooper Albers previews Thursday’s MLB game between the Arizona Diamondbacks and the New York Mets at Citi Field.

National League clubs wrap their three-game series Thursday night, as the New York Mets host the Arizona Diamondbacks for a rubber match at Citi Field. 

The teams have split the first two games of the set. The Mets (7–5, 2nd NL East) won the opener, 4–3, on Ronny Mauricio’s pinch-hit, game-winning single in the bottom of the 10th. The Diamondbacks (6–6, 2nd NL West) responded with a 7–2 thumping, fueled by three extra-base hits from Corbin Carroll.  

Looking at Thursday’s pitching probables, we’ve got a rematch from the WBC Final: Venezuela’s Eduardo Rodriguez is tabbed to start for the D-Backs, while USA phenom Nolan McLean is expected to take the mound for the Amazins.

First pitch is set for 7:10 p.m. ET. New York enters as a 1.5-run home favorite on DraftKings Sportsbook, while Arizona sits as a +135 underdog. The game total is set at O/U seven runs.

Diamondbacks vs. Mets Preview

Arizona Diamondbacks

The Diamondbacks have gotten off to a respectable start in 2026, trailing only the reigning champion Dodgers for the top spot in the saturated NL West. 

Especially impressive is that they’ve stayed competitive without much offense in the early goings. Star right fielder Corbin Carroll is the lone exception, hitting .333 with a 1.099 OPS, 196 wRC+, two home runs, and 11 RBIs through his first 12 games. (Not bad for someone who broke his hand in February.) But outside the two-time All-Star, Arizona’s lineup has stalled; Ketel Marte, Nolan Arenado, and Geraldo Perdomo all carry an OPS under .600. The D-Backs currently sit in MLB’s bottom 10 in wRC+ (25th), runs scored (22nd), and home runs (27th). 

Arizona’s pitching has also raised some initial red flags. While the club’s rotation has posted the league’s seventh-lowest ERA at 3.02, its 4.83 xERA plummets to 26th. Meanwhile, the bullpen has been brutal either way you look at it. As a whole, the pitching staff is liable for the second-lowest K/9 in baseball (6.86). 

On Thursday, the Diamondbacks will hand the ball to veteran lefty Eduardo Rodriguez. After flourishing for Venezuela in the WBC, the veteran southpaw has opened the 2026 campaign with 12 shutout frames thanks to a primary emphasis on his changeup. But coming off a 5.02 ERA in 2025, he’ll look to keep riding his hot streak — and leave the bullpen out of it as long as possible. 

New York Mets

Less than two weeks into the season, New York has already been hit with a notable setback: superstar outfielder Juan Soto landed on the 10-day IL with a calf strain. 

Without their hottest hitter, the Mets’ lineup is far less imposing — especially when Francisco Lindor and Bo Bichette have each posted an OPS under .600. Fortunately, the young core — particularly Mark Vientos and Francisco Alvarez — has stepped up in Soto’s absence. Meanwhile, Luis Robert Jr. has looked completely rejuvenated in Queens, his .895 OPS being the highest it’s been since the 2021 campaign. 

While the Amazins are still searching for power on offense, their pitching staff has been absolute nails. Much of New York’s pitching success has come from the back end, with its bullpen pairing MLB’s third-lowest ERA (1.71) with the third-highest left-on-base percentage (82.7%). That’s not to say the rotation is slouching; while Mets starters rank near the middle of the road with a 3.78 ERA, their 3.12 xERA sits in the league’s top four. They also lead the majors with a 50.3% ground-ball rate. 

On Thursday, the Mets will hand the ball to exactly who they want in a series-clinching situation: burgeoning ace Nolan McLean. The nasty right-hander — fresh off dazzling for Team USA in the WBC — will look to build off an impressive pair of starts in 2026, currently holding a 2.61 ERA (2.31 xERA) with a 0.87 WHIP and 12 strikeouts (10.45 K/9) across 10.1 frames.

Diamondbacks vs. Mets Pick, Best Bet

Even without Soto, New York is more complete on both sides of the ball. Looking under the hood, Arizona’s pitching, especially Rodriguez, seems primed for a blowup outing, giving the Mets a chance to finally wake up offensively. Expect strong run support for McLean as he stifles the one-dimensional D-Backs lineup Thursday night.

Best Bet: New York Mets -1.5 Runs (+135)