Noah Syndergaard delivered an absolute gem on his first start of the season for the New York Mets. Unfortunately for him, a blister that flared up on his finger forced him to leave the game after six shutout innings and he failed to pick up a win. Syndergaard will get another shot at his first win of the season when the Mets host the Miami Marlins on Sunday Night Baseball. Miami will counter with Edinson Volquez on the mound under the bright lights in New York.
Sunday Night Baseball Details
Date: Sunday April 9th
Time: 8:00 PM ET
Odds: Mets -185
Total: 7
Why The Marlins Might Win….
Because Volquez is on the bump for them. Volquez also earned a no decision in his first start of the season. The veteran right-hander threw five innings of shutout ball against the Washington Nationals. Volquez gave up just four hits while striking out six batters, but the Marlins scored just two runs in the game and eventually lost 4-2. Volquez will need to deliver another strong performance in order to give his club a shot on the road on Sunday Night Baseball.
Volquez pitched six innings of shutout ball in his lone start against the Mets last season, so there is reason for him to be confident. Miami’s offense had scored just 10 runs through its first three games but they have come to life. They have pounded the Mets pitching over the last two games, scoring 15 runs in the two wins. They need more of the same on Sunday but it won’t be easy with Syndergaard on the mound. The good news is they’ve worn down the Mets bullpen, forcing them to pitching nine innings over the last two days. If they can somehow chase Syndergaard and get to the bullpen, they’ll be in great shape.
Why The Mets Might Win….
Syndergaard was dominant against the Marlins last season. He went 2-0 with a 1.80 ERA and 29 strikeouts over three starts versus Miami. Syndergaard’s finger is expected to be fine for Sunday night and he should be motivated to pitch another gem in front of the home crowd.
Meanwhile, the Mets offense scored six runs in each of its first two wins of the season compared to a total of four runs in the losses. New York needs to get to Volquez early to build some confidence. Their offense has either been hot in the wins or cold in the losses.
They definitely have an intriguing lineup but last year, this club leaned far too heavily on the home run ball to manufacture runs. So far this season, they are batting just .213 as a team and that’s a concern. They don’t even have the power numbers either as they have just three home runs. The good news is they’re at home in primetime, so maybe their bats will finally come alive.
Outlook
Syndergaard is looking to build off an absolutely dominant 2016 season in which he posted 14 wins with a 2.60 ERA and a 1.15 WHIP. The 24-year-old has the potential to drastically improve his overall win totals with similar statistics this season. Syndergaard should have no problem keeping the Marlins offense at bay in this one. The Marlins have given the Mets starting pitching staff a hard time in recent outings but Syndergaard is a cut above what they’ve faced.
Meanwhile, the Mets need to find a way to solve Volquez after he was excellent in his season debut. That’s been a problem for them in recent meetings. They’ve faced him three times over the last three seasons and he’s held them to a .219 batting average. He’s won two of those starts while giving up just two earned runs in 17 innings of work. Considering how much the Mets offense has struggled of late, they can’t be excited about this matchup.
The main issue with betting Sunday Night Baseball this week is that the price seems so out of wack. The Marlins have been the better team this season and in this series. Yes, Syndergaard is a stud but do you want to lay nearly -200 with him considering how the Mets are playing these days? Their offense is cold and their bullpen is worn down. If anything, the Marlins are worth a look. However, I’ll take a shot with the under instead. It’s a low number but this looks like a pitcher’s duel.
Pick: Under and also a small play on Marlins
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