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Mets vs. Nationals Prediction and Odds for Opening Day (Who is Starting Opening Day for the Mets?)

By Matt De Saro

Washington Nationals v Colorado Rockies
Washington Nationals v Colorado Rockies / Rob Leiter/GettyImages
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Major League Baseball is back and the Opening Day features a great National League East division matchup to start the year. The Washington Nationals host the New York Mets on Thursday afternoon to kick the season off with a bang. This is shaping up to be an odd case of an Opening Day revenge game. This is because the Mets were crushed by the Nationals on Tuesday 14-0. Now, I realize that Spring Training games don’t matter a ton when it comes to the regular season. But even a 14-0 loss in the preseason has to sting. 

While the odds for these games suggest a close matchup, the season outlook for these teams couldn't be much different. The Mets are +1200 to win the World Series and +550 to win the National League Pennant. The Nationals, on the other hand, are +10000 to win the title and +5000 to win the division. 

Here are the odds for this Opening Day NL East battle, courtesy of WynnBET Sportsbook. 

Mets vs. Nationals Odds, Run Line, and Total

Run Line

  • Mets: -1.5 (+120)
  • Nationals: +1.5 (-140)

Moneyline:

  • Mets: -127
  • Nationals: +117

Total:

  • Total 9 (Over -110/Under -110)

Mets vs. Nationals Prediction and Pick

This is currently the toughest game on the Opening Day schedule to make a call on. That is because, as of Wednesday afternoon, we have no confirmation of a starter for the Mets. They are the only team in the MLB yet to confirm their opening day starter. Jacob deGrom was supposed to get the nod for Opening Day but suffered a shoulder injury that will shut him down for the time being. Max Scherzer would be the next logical option but he is dealing with a hamstring issue. I’m sure there are some in the organization that are pushing to start Scherzer. But I think that is a mistake. The Mets have a few options here.

The most intriguing of which is to send Tylor Megill out to start the season for New York. Megill made 18 starts for the Mets last year with mixed results. He posted a 4.52 ERA and 1.28 WHIP in 89.2 innings. The other option is to start the year with a bullpen game. I think it’s a bad move to gas out your bullpen on the first day of the season. 

The Nationals will open their first season in 10 years without either Stephen Strasburg or Max Scherzer as the opening day starter. Patrick Corbin will toe the rubber this afternoon in what should be an interesting season debut. This is not Corbin’s first crack at Opening Day duties. The southpaw started Opening Day for the Diamondbacks in 2018. He went 5 ⅔ innings, striking out nine and giving up two earned runs. 

However, last year was a struggle for Corbin and he finished with a 5.82 ERA and a 1.47 WHIP. I am worried the spotlight of Opening Day might prove too much for Corbin in this spot. This goes double for Megill. 

I think with all the question marks surrounding the starting pitching in this game, a bet on the over makes a lot of sense.

Pick: OVER 9 (-110)

Follow all of Matt De Saro’s betting picks HERE

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