The Mets enter their midweek series in Washington three games behind the Nationals in the NL East standings. The Mets sit at 40-34, while the Nats sit at 43-31. If the Mets can do well in this series, they will make themselves players once again at the top of the standings and improve their MLB betting odds to make it to the postseason. The Mets lost in Atlanta on Sunday, 5-2, while the Nationals beat the Milwaukee Brewers, 3-2, on Sunday.
NY Mets vs Washington Nationals MLB Betting Preview
When: Tuesday, June 28, 2016, 7:05pm Eastern time
Where: Nationals Park, Washington, DC
TV: MASN, SNY, MLB Network
Radio: 106.7 FM The Fan Washington
Live Stream: MLB.tv
MLB Odds: Nationals -1½+180Pitching Matchup: Matt Harvey (4-9, 4.64 ERA) (NY) vs Lucas Giolito (0-0, 0.00 ERA) (WAS)
Why should you bet on New York?
Which Matt Harvey will show up on Tuesday? He’s still hitting the mid-90s, but he’s not getting hitters out at the same rate that he was last year. The Nats have already seen him twice this year, and they roughed him up, posting 14 runs in those two outings, almost sending Harvey to the bullpen. The good news is that the Mets get to take on rookie pitcher Lucas Giolito. He is the #1 minor league prospect in all of baseball (as ranked by MLBPipeline.com), posting a 5-3 record and a 3.17 ERA in 14 starts for AA Harrisburg, striking out 72 men in 71 innings. This start will be his major league debut, which sometimes goes really well, and sometimes ends up in a thrashing.
Why should you put your money on the Nationals?
Washington has absolutely feasted on Matt Harvey this year. Five of the Nats’ current starters are hitting over .300 against Harvey in their career, and Daniel Murphy (2-4, 2 HR, 4 RBI) has to be salivating about the matchup right now. Ryan Zimmerman has also taken Harvey deep twice, and Anthony Rendon has taken him deep once. Only Bryce Harper (.042, 24 AB) has struggled much against Harvey in his career. If Giolito can mow down the Mets in the first few innings and the Nats can get to the New York bullpen early, this could be a big Nat win.
Expert Pick and Final Score Prediction
Giolito comes into this game with some real bona fides, and Harvey has been a mess against the Nats this season. I’m predicting a 7-3 Washington win.
