The New York Mets and the San Francisco Giants meet Thursday in MLB action from Oracle Park. New York played the Dodgers in their last series. After a split in the first pair, in the Wednesday rubber match the Mets notched a two-run victory. As for San Francisco, they’re coming off a series versus the Marlins. The Giants lost the first two games in that set, then on Wednesday San Francisco won by three runs. Check back all season long for free MLB picks at Sports Chat Place.
New York Mets
New York beat the Dodgers 8-6 in their Monday opener, but fell 5-0 in the Tuesday game two. On Wednesday in the finale the Mets took the series with a 5-3 win. Max Scherzer put up 3.0 clean frames with one hit, two walks and three Ks.
For the starter job in the Thursday matchup it’ll be New York’s Kodai Senga. In three starts so far this year Senga is 2-0 with a 3.38 ERA and 21 Ks in 16.0 innings. Senga is coming off 4.2 innings with four earned on seven hits and four walks in Oakland.
San Francisco Giants
Over on the San Francisco side, they lost 4-3 to the Marlins on Monday and 4-2 in the Tuesday game two matchup. On Wednesday the Giants got a couple of homers during a four-run 11th inning on the way to a wild 5-2 victory. Starter Alex Cobb had 5.0 innings with one earned, seven hits and a walk.
As the starting pitcher on Thursday, the Giants will go with Sean Manaea. In three games (two starts) without a decision so far this year Manaea holds a 4.76 ERA and 13 Ks in 11.1 innings. He’s 58-50 with a 4.07 career ERA in 162 games (158 starts).
The Mets are 42-18 in their last 60 in game one of a series and 17-5 in their last 22 Thursday games. The over is 7-2 in New York’s last nine Thursday games.
Meanwhile, the Giants are 5-16 in their last 21 Thursday games and 0-4 in their last four in game one of a series. The under is 6-2-1 in San Francisco’s last nine Thursday games.
ANDREW’S FREE PICK
I’ll stay with the Mets here. Senga needs a nice bounce-back performance though, following four earned in 4.2 frames in Oakland on April 14. In his two starts prior, Senga put up 11.1 combined innings with two earned on six hits and six walks. On Wednesday New York had a solid offensive day with 11 team hits, but it took a while for the bats to get going. A handful of runs will probably do it here, so if the Mets offense can deliver some support I think they’ll be fine win-wise.