Tonight’s matchup features two teams that are desperately trying to stay within striking distance in their respective divisions.
New York Mets at Los Angeles Dodgers
New York stumbles into a four-game series against the Los Angeles Dodgers after losing 4-3 in 14 innings on Wednesday and getting swept by the Arizona Diamondbacks. The Mets are dismal 19-30 on the road this season (-930) and have fallen 6.5 games back of the NL East-leading Atlanta Braves. New York is 3-10 in its last 13 games and 8-16 over its last 24 games. Offensively, the team has been held to four runs or fewer in 12 straight games, as the club has compiled a 3-9 record over that stretch. In their last seven games, the Mets have managed to score first just once, with the team being 9-28 when the opponent draws first blood. Expect a possible bounce back performance in tonight’s change of venue, with the team being 5-3 after three or more consecutive losses this season (+340) and 26-19 in this spot the last three years (+1,240).
Mets starting pitcher Hisanori Takahashi is 7-4 with a 4.69 ERA in 26 games (10 starts) this season. He suffered an 8-4 road defeat to the Giants last time out, surrendering six runs and seven hits over just 2.2 innings of work. The left-hander is 3-2 with a 5.44 ERA in 11 away outings (six starts), allowing opponents to hit for a .311 combined average. Takahashi picked up the victory in relief in a 10-5 home victory in his only career appearance against the Dodgers on April 27. In that appearance, he allowed just a single run and two hits over 3.1 frames. In his 10 starts this season, the Mets offense has provided him just 2.50 runs of support a game (6-4 O/U).
Los Angeles picked up a 2-0 shutout victory in the series finale against the San Francisco Giants last night, as bench coach Don Mattingly picked up his first managerial victory in Joe Torre’s absence. “That’s what we needed,” said Mattingly. “It feels good for the club.” The Dodgers ended a six-game losing streak with the victory, but are still batting .247 and scored just 18 runs since the All-Star break. Los Angeles moved its divisional record to 24-8, but now will need to improve upon its record against the NL East. Los Angeles is 5-11 against Eastern foes this season, while posting a winning 17-15 mark against the Central. The club is 5-2 on the season after picking up a shutout victory (+270), with the total being 3-4 O/U in those contests.
Dodgers starting pitcher Hiroki Kuroda is 7-8 with a 3.74 ERA in 18 starts this season, but has dropped two straight games due to lack of run support. The offense has managed to be shutout in his last two outings, as the right-hander has allowed five runs and 10 hits over 13 innings in that span. He is an even 3-3 with a 3.75 ERA in nine home starts, picking up 37 strikeouts and walking just 16 in 57.2 innings. Kuroda is 0-3 with a 7.71 ERA in four career starts against the Mets. New York batters are hitting .359 against him with four home runs.
Playing the total is not out of the question, with the Mets being 3-1 O/U as a road underdog of +150 to +175 this season. The Dodgers are 15-14 O/U against left-handed starters, but 21-12 O/U when the total is 8 to 8.5.
